Islamabad, 1 May 2024, (GNP): Pakistan’s groundbreaking lunar endeavor, the ICUBE-Q mission, is scheduled for launch on May 3rd, at 12:50 PM Pakistan Standard Time, aboard China’s Chang’E6 spacecraft from Hainan, China.
The satellite ICUBE-Q has been developed in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University SJTU, Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO, and Institute of Space Technology (IST).
The ICUBE-Q orbiter is equipped with two optical cameras for capturing images of the lunar surface.
After undergoing successful qualification and testing, ICUBE-Q has been seamlessly integrated into the Chang’e6 mission.
Chang’e6 marks the sixth installment in China’s series of lunar exploration missions.
“ICUBE-Q orbiter carries two optical cameras to image the lunar surface,” the APP reported. “Following successful qualification and testing, ICUBE-Q has now been integrated with the Chang’e 6 mission.”
The launch event will be broadcasted live on the IST website and IST social media channels. China’s Chang’e6 lunar mission aims to land on the far side of the Moon to gather surface samples, which will then be brought back to Earth for further research.
This mission carries significance for Pakistan as it includes the deployment of the iCube-Q, a CubeSat satellite developed by IST.
CubeSats are small satellites known for their miniature size and standardized design. They are typically cube-shaped and composed of modular components, adhering to specific size constraints.
CubeSats typically weigh only a few kilograms and are launched into space to fulfill a variety of purposes.
CubeSats, owing to their compact size and lower cost compared to traditional satellites, provide avenues for universities, research institutions, and commercial entities to engage in space missions, thereby facilitating the acquisition of valuable data for scientific progress and innovation.
Use of Relay Satellites
Chang’e-6 relies on a recently deployed relay satellite orbiting the moon for its 53-day mission, including a never-before attempted ascent from the moon’s “hidden” side on its return journey.
This same relay satellite will also support the uncrewed Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 missions in 2026 and 2028, respectively.
During these missions, China plans to explore the moon’s south pole for water and establish a basic outpost in collaboration with Russia. China aims to land its astronauts on the moon by 2030.
These polar exploration plans by Beijing have raised concerns for NASA, with Administrator Bill Nelson expressing worry that China might lay claim to any discovered water resources. However, Beijing asserts its commitment to cooperation with all nations in building a “shared” future.
Meanwhile, under the NASA-led Artemis program, US astronauts are scheduled to land near the moon’s south pole in 2026, marking the first human presence on the moon since 1972.
“International cooperation is key (to lunar exploration),” Clive Neal, professor of planetary geology at the University of Notre Dame, told Reuters. “It’s just that China and the U.S. aren’t cooperating right now. I hope that will happen.”
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South pole ambitions
Chang’e 6 is set to attempt a landing on the northeastern side of the expansive South Pole-Aitken Basin, recognized as the oldest known impact crater in the solar system.
In February, the southernmost landing to date was conducted by IM-1, a joint mission involving NASA and the Texas-based private company Intuitive Machines.
The spacecraft aimed for Malapert A, a site near the south pole perceived as relatively flat, but encountered technical challenges, including a sharp tilt to one side post-touchdown, highlighting the high-risk nature of lunar landings.
Scientists refer to the south pole as the “golden belt” for lunar exploration due to its potential. Polar ice could sustain long-term research bases without relying on costly resources transported from Earth. India’s Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008 confirmed the presence of ice inside polar craters.
The sample return mission of Chang’e-6 could provide further insights into the early evolution of the moon and the inner solar system. The absence of volcanic activity on the moon’s far side means there are more craters unaffected by ancient lava flows, preserving materials from the moon’s early formation.
Until now, all lunar samples obtained by the United States, the former Soviet Union in the 1970s, and China in 2020 were from the moon’s near side, where volcanic activity had been more prevalent. Upon a successful landing, Chang’e-6 aims to collect approximately 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of samples using a mechanical scoop and drill.
“If successful, China’s Chang’e-6 mission would be a milestone-making event,” Leonard David, author of “Moon Rush: The New Space Race”.
“The robotic reach to the Moon’s far side, and bringing specimens back to Earth, helps fill in the blanks about the still-murky origin of our Moon” he added.
