Since the Russians, back then known as The Soviet Union, launched the first-ever satellite, known as Sputnik 1, into space in 1954, on 4 October, the rest of the world came vigorously into action at the thought of space travel. And thus, it became everyone’s mission to be the first country to send a human into space. For a world that was still in the aftermath of being able to fly in the air, going into space seemed to be an inconceivable notion at the time.
Having sent the first satellite into space, the Soviet Union also succeeded in becoming the first country to send a human into an orbit journey around the earth on 12 April 1961. And so, Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin became the first person to travel into space aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. A month later, America followed by sending Alan B. Shepard into space on 5 May 1961, aboard a Mercury capsule named Freedom 7.
After this, throughout the years, citizens of 42 other countries have flown into space for exploration or information purposes. Unfortunately, Pakistan has yet to become a part of human space travel. The country did manage to establish a space centre right around the time America and Russia were sending humans into space; however, it only started functioning in 1964 and kept a low profile for an initial couple of decades.
SUPARCO gained the status of Commission in 1981. The main aim of this establishment is to uplift the country’s socio-economic status. Though the plans regarding the Space Programmed 2040 are aspiring, to say the least, it is a fact that Pakistan does not have a launch site. And this is where China’s involvement is somewhat necessary for SUPARCO’s progression.
SUPARCO and Space Programme 2040
Established in the year 2011, Space Programme 2040 is a satellite development and launch programme of SUPARCO. The mission of this programme is to launch five GEO satellites and six LEO or Low Earth Orbits by the year 2040.
Paksat-IR was the first satellite launched under this programme on 11 August 2011. Not only does this programme aims to improve socio-economic conditions, but it also plans on doing research and divulging further into space medicine along with facilitating the innovative growth of satellite development and space technology.
Despite all the intentions, promises and mission, PAKSAT-1R remains the only launched satellite since 2011.
China And SUPARCO – The Past
Pakistan’s SUPARCO signed an agreement with the Chinese Ministry of Aerospace Industry in 1991, after a decades-long lull. The majority of reasons for this elongated respite revolves around the entirety of the country’s focus concentrating on furthering the development of nuclear technology, which left SUPARCO way down the list. However, after collaborating with China, SUPARCO received a boost in its momentum. And it has, as of yet, proved to be exponentially successful as, in 2011, Pakistan launched PAKSAT-1R from a space centre in China.
Not only has China successfully launched two satellites, but in 2012, CNSA and SUPARCO signed a proverbial roadmap for various collaborations pertaining to space.
China and SUPARCO – The Future
It is no hidden fact that Pakistan’s advancement in space is primarily due to China’s aid. And with their help, Pakistan is working on constructing a space-oriented defence programme. Not only that, but there are several plans to develop further in the military sector.
In addition to that, Pakistan has also expressed consent to sending a Pakistani astronaut aboard a Chinese spacecraft as part of the joint collab on the space missions. In 2019, China and Pakistan also signed a new agreement centring around space exploration and announcing the intention of sending an astronaut in 2022 through China’s satellite launching facilities.
Pakistan’s space program will undoubtedly benefit greatly from China’s advanced technology and innovative solutions.
The COVID-19 put a halt on a number of projects, including SUPARCO’s. However, in January 2022, China announced plans to advance space corporations with Pakistan. This includes the establishment and development of a space centre in Pakistan itself in order to launch more Pakistani satellites into space.
SUPARCO’s Competitions
Unbeknownst to billions, Pakistan’s SUPARCO is one of the oldest space programs in the entire world and the oldest in Asia. India’s ISRO came into being eight years after SUPARCO, in 1969, while China went into the game much later in 1993.
However, due to restricted funds and pulling scientists from the space projects to increase development in the nuclear programmes, SUPARCO suffered decades’ worth of neglect. And thus, space programmes created much later managed to surpass SUPARCO and go miles ahead with advancements, developments and explorations.
While Pakistan does not even have a space launching location, India has managed to launch several successfully completed missions from their satellite launching sites.
India is always somewhat regarded as a competition, as both the countries gained independence simultaneously. Thus, every national and international endeavour always has an underlying rivalry. And India establishing a space programme much later than Pakistan and still managing to make astronomical progress has always given rise to conflict among the people of the nation.
What Does the Future Look Like?
If Pakistan and China continue to work together and go according to the agreements signed between the countries, there is no way but up for the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission. Reports suggest that Pakistan might develop its own satellite launching site with help from China.
However, none of this will work if the government and the nation refuse to back the space programmes. Considering the turmoil Pakistan is facing, politically speaking, programmes like SUPARCO and Space Programme 2040 often tend to get swept under the rug to give light to more important factors. And this has been one of the major causes of the lack of success when it comes to progression in space technology and exploration.
As of now, Pakistan has a fleet of various satellites in space. However, much is needed to be done to even think about equating with the rest of the world. And foremost is the prioritization of SUPARCO, so they are able to go forward with crucial projects like space medicine, exploration and development.
