ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will launch an indigenously developed remote sensing satellite (RSS) named PakTES-1A in July this year, Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Muhmmad Faisal said on Sunday.
The spokesman said that PakTES-1A was an indigenously developed remote sensing satellite that weighed 285 kg. It will be launched at 610 km sun-synchronous orbit in July, 2018. He also shared the picture of the satellite’s model.
Pakistan Technology Evaluation Satellite (PakTES-1A) is a fully indigenous project of scientists and engineers at Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco).
Pakistan marked a significant milestone in space technology in March by securing a geostationary orbital slot along with previous frequency resources ensuring a presence in the space.
PakTES-1A – an indigenously developed 285 kg remote sensing satellite of Pakistan. It will be launched at 610 km sun-synchronous orbit in July 2018. 👍 👏👊🇵🇰 #proudofpakistaniscientists pic.twitter.com/ijpSJrrAzs
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) June 24, 2018
Earlier the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALVT) had announced that China will launch two remote sensing satellites for Pakistan.
It said that this will be the first international commercial launch for a Long March-2C rocket for around 18 years after it carried Motorola’s Iridium satellites into orbit in 1999.
The rocket will also carry the China-France Oceanography Satellite into space in September this year. The satellite will monitor ocean wind and waves. Long March-2C rockets are mainly used to send satellites into low Earth or Sun-synchronous orbits.
In 2016, China and Pakistan had signed an agreement to launch a special remote sensing satellite. There are currently three satellites under design by Suparco in collaboration with different Chinese universities.
 named PakTES-1A in July this year.){kind=link}