Fri Jan 17 11:46:32 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan Launches First Homegrown Observation Satellite
**KARACHI, PAKISTAN – January 17, 2025** – Pakistan achieved a significant milestone in its space program today with the successful launch of its first domestically built observation satellite, PRSC-EO1. The launch, conducted from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northern China, utilized a Chinese Long March-2D carrier rocket.
According to the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the PRSC-EO1 satellite will enhance Pakistan’s capabilities in natural resource management, disaster response, urban planning, and agricultural development. The satellite employs electro-optical sensors to capture high-resolution images and data of the Earth’s surface.
The launch also included the deployment of two other satellites, Tianlu-1 and Blue Carbon 1, by China. This collaborative effort underscores the growing partnership between Pakistan and China in space exploration.
The launch comes amid a booming global market for earth observation satellites, currently valued at $5 billion and projected to surpass $8 billion by 2033. Several nations, including the United States, China, and India, are investing heavily in building their own satellite constellations for earth observation. India recently saw the launch of its first privately built satellite constellation by startup Pixxel.
First Piper 