Pakistan’s ICUBE-Q satellite has been successfully entered into the lunar orbit via China’s Chang’e-6 probe on Wednesday. The satellite is set to undergo testing while in orbit, with the Institute of Space Technology (IST) overseeing various tests over the next five to six days.
Dr. Khurram Khurshid and Dr. Qamarul Islam are currently in China to monitor this landmark mission. Testing during ICUBE-Q’s time in orbit will include communication and battery tests, with the operational readiness of the orbiter’s imaging system expected to be verified within a week. Initial images from the moon are anticipated by May 15 or 16. Sub-systems will also undergo testing during this period.
In the next phase, China’s Chang’e-6 lander will land on the lunar surface to collect soil and rock samples from the moon’s south pole. The return journey of the Chang’e-6 mission to Earth is scheduled to commence on June 4, with an expected arrival on June 25. Pakistan’s space program reached a significant milestone on May 3, with the successful launch of the country’s first lunar orbiter from China’s Henan Space Launch Site. The journey to send a lunar orbiter began in 2022 when the China National Space Agency (CNSA), through the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), offered member states the opportunity to send a student-built payload to the moon aboard the Chang’e-6 mission.
ICUBE-Qamar, proposed as a lunar CubeSat by IST, was selected after rigorous evaluation. Its development involved collaboration between IST’s students and faculty, SUPARCO, and China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). The payload, weighing around 7 kilograms, consists of the CubeSat, the separation mechanism, and the mounting bracket. Equipped with two cameras for lunar surface imaging and other sensors for deep-space communication, altitude controls, and various functions, ICUBE-Q marks a significant achievement in Pakistan’s space endeavors.
