Pakistan's Satellite Rides on Chinese Rocket, "Another Milestone"
On the 12th, Pakistan's second domestically developed Earth observation satellite, PRSC-EO2, was launched into space aboard China's Hyperbola-3 rocket from the sea near Yangjiang, Guangdong, China, successfully entering its designated orbit. This Hyperbola-3 rocket carried seven satellites, with Pakistan's PRSC-EO2 being the only foreign satellite. The news has sparked heated discussions in Pakistani media. On the 12th, the Dawn newspaper commented that China's rocket carrying Pakistan's satellite into space marks a major achievement for Pakistan's space development.
According to a report by the Dawn newspaper, the PRSC-EO2 satellite was developed by Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission. It mainly enhances Pakistan's Earth observation capabilities through high-resolution imaging functions. After entering orbit, the satellite will provide key data and images for Pakistan, used for natural resource management, environmental monitoring, and national development planning.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif expressed on social media that Pakistan has achieved "another milestone in its space endeavors." The success of this launch mission reflects the improvement of Pakistan's space technology and also demonstrates the unwavering strategic partnership between Pakistan and China. "This relationship is expanding into the space field," he said, and looks forward to more good news from the cooperation between Pakistan and China in the space sector.
In February last year, China and Pakistan signed a cooperation agreement to select and train astronauts. Foreign astronauts will enter China's space station in the coming years for short-term missions, and a Pakistani astronaut may become the first foreign astronaut to visit China's space station.
Javed Akhtar, editor-in-chief of the Associated Press of Pakistan, told the Global Times as a special correspondent on the 13th, that the news about Pakistan's PRSC-EO2 satellite following China's rocket into space has spread widely in Pakistan. Whether in mainstream media or on social media, "the Pakistani people are patriotic and love to talk about Sino-Pak cooperation." Akhtar said that Sino-Pak friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Pakistani people. Now, the new progress in Sino-Pak space cooperation indicates that the collaboration between the two countries is expanding into higher-tech and higher-level fields. Developing space technology is very important for Pakistan, and he thanked China once again for taking along the "Baba sheep" (a beloved nickname for Pakistan by Chinese netizens - editor's note). Akhtar said that if a Pakistani astronaut successfully visits China's space station, it would be "the biggest news in Pakistan" and a source of national pride for Pakistan, and he looks forward to this day arriving soon. (Special correspondent Huang Xiaona, stationed in Pakistan for the Global Times)
Original: toutiao.com/article/1857079769731264/
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