SUPARCO, Pakistan’s Space, and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission made an official statement about the launch of first ever optical remote sensing satellite in Pakistan PRSS-1 in 2018 at the opening ceremony of the World Space Week 2017. IST, Institute of Space and Technology, Islamabad hosted the ceremony. Qaiser Anees Khurram, Chairman SUPARCO has inaugurated the ceremony as a chief guest of the event.
SUPARCO has organized another event in Karachi Headquarters at NCRG, National Center for Remote Sensing and Geo-Informatics where Ayaz Aziz was the chief guest, member range, and Instrumentation (R&I).
World Space Week celebrations and related activities held throughout Pakistan, explicitly in 16 cities.
Ayaz Aziz said that it is a privilege of SUPARCO to be a part of World Space Week, and served as a national coordinator of World Space Week Association (WSWA) in Pakistan. He further stated that SUPARCO serving this role since 2005.
He informed that Pakistan is among those 86 nations that celebrated and dedicated efforts for the improvement of space science and technology every year.
He highlighted the Land cover categorization of Pakistan, Land information system, national environment information management, glacier monitoring, etc. while talking about socio-economic development made by SUPARCO.
He said that SUPARCO has done hard work for the environment modeling and natural resource management. Active crop estimation and Risk & Disaster assessment were established for agriculture. Mitigation and management program is under development.
He said that PRSS-1 will all be completed to be released by 2018. The launch of optical remote sensing satellite would support Pakistan being independent in multispectral imaging. A great deal of money was spent on satellite imaging and satellite-based monitoring.
Ayaz Aziz mentioned another working satellite that is Paksat-1R, a communication satellite of SUPARCO. It is efficiently helping communication and broadcasting across Pakistan as well as bordering countries.
World Space Week encourages young generation to pursue information, schooling, and occupations in space science and technology, youngsters are more motivated on the road to understanding universe according to Mr. Aziz.
The ceremony concluded with the commencement of space education bus by the chief guest and SUPARCO employees to spread knowledge about space in rural areas of Sindh among school students.