Pakistan launches HS-1 hyperspectral satellite from China

Pakistan successfully launched its first hyperspectral satellite, HS-1, from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, marking a major step forward in the country’s space programme, Suparco said. Live scenes were broadcast from the agency’s Karachi complex as officials confirmed the spacecraft had entered its intended orbit.

According to Suparco, HS-1 will undergo up to two months of in-orbit testing before becoming fully operational. Equipped to capture data across hundreds of narrow spectral bands, the satellite is intended to provide detailed observations of land, vegetation, water bodies and urban areas.

Officials said the data will enhance agricultural planning through precision monitoring of crop health and irrigation, assist in tracking deforestation and glacier melt, and help identify geological risks along major infrastructure corridors. Urban planners are expected to use the imagery for mapping growth, monitoring environmental change and improving resource management.

The Foreign Office hailed the launch as a milestone in Pakistan–China cooperation on peaceful space exploration. Suparco added that HS-1 complements Pakistan’s growing remote-sensing fleet, following EO-1 and KS-1 earlier this year, and aligns with the National Space Policy and Vision 2047.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar congratulated scientists and engineers on both sides, calling the mission a leap toward self-reliance in advanced space technology and a foundation for wider applications in disaster response and development planning.