Pak launches 2 satellites from China

Islamabad [Pakistan], July 9 (ANI): Pakistan on Monday launched two indigenously built satellites into the orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, using a Chinese-made launch vehicle, the Express Tribune quoted officials.

The satellites were launched onboard a Chinese Long March (LM-2C) rocket, it was reported.

The first satellite sent into space is a remote sensing satellite (PRSS1), a dual-purpose Earth observational and optical satellite. This makes Pakistan one of the few countries to establish its own remote sensing satellite into orbit.

The second satellite launched is a PAK-TES-1A, which has been developed by Pakistan's space agency, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), to augment satellite manufacture capabilities in the country.

The two satellites were sent to China as Pakistan lacks the infrastructure to launch such objects into space, according to the Express Tribune report.

The PRSS1 has been developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), according to the Samma TV reports.

This is the second time both China and Pakistan have collaborated in the space sector.

In 2011, Pakistan launched a communication satellite named PAKSAT-1R, with China's help. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI