China launches two satellites for Pakistan

China launched two satellites for Pakistan on a Long March-2C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China’s Gansu Province on Monday.

A scientific experiment satellite, PakTES-1A, developed by Pakistan, was sent into orbit via the rocket. After entering orbit, the PRSS-1, China’s first optical remote sensing satellite sold to Pakistan, is in good condition with its solar panels unfolded smoothly, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

“China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners… It is China’s responsibility to help Pakistan in its development, especially in terms of space industry, where it needs help,” Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Institute of International Relations of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday.

The PRSS-1, which has a design life of seven years, will be used for land and resources surveying, monitoring of natural disasters, agriculture research, urban construction and providing remote sensing information for the Belt and Road region, Xinhua reported.

The satellite is equipped with two cameras, which designers say can be used to monitor plant diseases and pests. The satellite has an information security design, and the data can be encrypted.

When the satellite flies over Pakistan, it can send back real-time images, said Xinhua.

“Pakistan is in a special geographical location with a lot of mountainous areas. It also has a high population density,” said Hu. “It is difficult to conduct surveying and research on the ground. The best way to do it is via satellites,” he stressed.

It is another space cooperation between China and Pakistan since the launch of PAKSAT-1R, a communication satellite, in August 2011.

The launch showed close ties between China and Pakistan, and highlights Chinese contribution to the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Belt and Road initiative, said Hu.