Pakistan has reached a pivotal moment in its space exploration journey, as the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) prepares to send its first indigenous lunar rover to the Moon aboard China’s Chang’e‑8 mission, slated for launch in 2028. This collaboration represents a landmark achievement for Pakistan and marks its formal entry into crewed and robotic lunar exploration under the banner of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) initiative.
The project was formalized when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on February 5, 2025, during President Asif Ali Zardari’s state visit to China, in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The agreement enables Pakistan’s SUPARCO to contribute a lightweight 35 kg lunar rover to the Chang’e‑8 mission, targeting the scientifically compelling south polar region of the Moon. The announcement was widely covered by national and international media.
SUPARCO emphasized that the rover carries advanced scientific payloads designed domestically, alongside collaborative instruments developed with Chinese and European scientists. The rover will be remotely operated from Earth and is expected to conduct crucial experiments in lunar soil composition, plasma properties, radiation analysis, surface mapping, and in-situ resource utilization—testing technologies that underpin long-term human presence on the Moon.
This undertaking follows Pakistan’s earlier success in space: the launch of the ICUBE-Qamar (ICUBE‑Q) nanosatellite aboard China’s Chang’e‑6 mission in May 2024. That satellite marked Pakistan’s first mission into deep space and helped solidify its position among contributors to lunar science and exploration.
As part of the 2028 Chang’e‑8 mission, Pakistan’s rover will operate at the lunar south pole—a region of significant scientific interest due to its permanently shadowed craters and potential for ice deposits. The rover’s experiments will focus on analyzing lunar regolith for resource potential, mapping terrain, studying plasma and radiation, and evaluating future technologies for sustained lunar operations. Developed, assembled, and tested entirely by Pakistani engineers at SUPARCO, the rover underscores the country’s growing technical prowess in space science.
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SUPARCO has launched a nationwide “Name Pakistan’s Lunar Rover” contest, offering a cash prize of Rs 100,000 and national recognition. The contest reflects efforts to involve citizens—especially students and space enthusiasts—in this groundbreaking mission. Pakistan’s role in Chang’e‑8 aligns it with an emerging group of ILRS partners—led by China and Russia—including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Venezuela, and South Africa.
This mission not only elevates Pakistan’s global standing in space science but also forges a pathway toward long-term lunar exploration and eventual human presence. Under the ILRS framework, China and Russia plan to develop surface or orbital science platforms between 2026 and 2035. Chang’e‑8 is slated to pave the way for these endeavors, with Pakistan firmly positioned as a contributing partner.
Pakistan’s journey from launching an orbital CubeSat to landing its own rover on the Moon speaks volumes about its strategic vision and technical ambition. As the countdown toward 2028 begins, the nation—and the world—awaits a new chapter in lunar science, exploration, and international cooperation.