Hey adventurers! 🌙 Guess what? China and Pakistan just took their friendship to the moon! Literally! China has handed over some super cool lunar data to Pakistan, and it's all thanks to a tiny but mighty satellite called ICUBE-Q.
ICUBE-Q is a lunar orbiter co-developed by Pakistan's Institute of Space Technology (IST) and China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). On May 8, it snapped its first-ever image of the moon after separating from China's Chang'e-6 orbiter. How awesome is that? 📸
In a ceremony held in Beijing, Zhang Kejian, the head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), personally handed over a data carrier to Pakistani Ambassador to China, Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi. They also released the satellite's stunning lunar images to the public. Talk about sharing is caring! 🤝
The Chang'e-6 lunar probe, launched on May 3, carried four international payloads, including our star, ICUBE-Q. This mission marks the first-ever lunar exploration cooperation between China and Pakistan, aiming to promote equality, mutual benefits, and peaceful use of space. 🚀
Ge Ping, deputy director of the CNSA's Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, said this project not only strengthens the bond between the two countries but also opens doors for more diverse aerospace collaborations. Future missions, here we come! 🌌
Fun fact: This all started when China invited international partners to join the Chang'e-6 mission. Pakistan's IST jumped at the opportunity, teaming up with students, faculty, Pakistan's national space agency SUPARCO, and SJTU. Way to shoot for the stars together! 🌠
Stay tuned, space lovers, because the universe is full of surprises, and this is just the beginning! 🌟
Reference(s):
China hands over Chang'e-6 mission CubeSat satellite data to Pakistan
cgtn.com
