Pakistan successfully launches PRSC-EO3 satellite into orbit from China

BEIJING: Pakistan succesfully launched indigenous Electro-Optical Satellite (EO-3) from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC), China, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) said on Saturday.

The satellite was sent into space at 8.15pm Beijing Time aboard a Long March-6 carrier rocket and has successfully entered its designated orbit.

The national EO3 will be used for a range of purposes, which also include disaster management such as floods, earthquakes, and landslides, as well as agriculture monitoring like crop health and irrigation planning.

It will also support urban planning and infrastructure development, environmental tracking including climate change, deforestation, and glaciers, and resource management covering water, minerals, and land use.

The successful launch of EO-3 Satellite will serve as the edifice for an integrated Earth Observation System which will contribute towards sustainable socio-economic development.

The launched EO3 satellite used a Long March-6 carrier rocket, reflecting strong China–Pakistan space cooperation, which has enabled multiple missions over the years.

The PRSC-EO3 has been developed by SUPARCO under the Pakistan’s national space programme, which is a part of the Pakistan Remote Sensing Constellation (PRSC) series.

Earlier satellites include PRSC-EO1 launched in 2025 as the first indigenous EO satellite, PRSC-EO2 in 2026 with improved imaging and continuity, and HS-1 in 2025, a hyperspectral satellite for detailed analysis.

Together, these satellites enhance coverage, accuracy, and the frequency of Earth imaging, supporting Pakistan’s long-term Space Vision 2040 plan aimed at achieving greater self-reliance in space technology.

It maybe noted that Pakistan currently does not have its own orbital launch capability, so it relies on partners, mainly China.