Pakistan is preparing to send its first astronaut to the Chinese Space Station in 2026 next year. This step may seem big for Pakistan, but the story behind it is a bit complex.
Pakistan’s Space Agency Suparco (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) started in 1961, which is even before India and China. But what is the situation today? How is it compared to India’s Space Agency ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)?
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Pakistan’s Space Program: From the beginning till now
Pakistan founded Suparco in 1961. The same year Nobel laureate scientist Abdus Salam tried to strengthen it. The first rocket “Rahbar-1” was launched in 1962, which was a major achievement at that time. In 1990, the first satellite “Badar-1” was launched with the help of China. But after this progress stopped.
Problems
- The government did not give adequate funding to the space program. Suparco’s annual budget is just $ 36 million, which is very low.
- For the last 11 years, the retired general of the army has been running this agency, which weakened the scientific direction.
- There are less space related courses in education, so that skilled people are not ready.
- Space research lagged behind due to focus on the nuclear program.
Dependence on China: Pakistan is mostly dependent on China today. Three satellites were launched in recent years, but all had Chinese help. Now the plan to send the first astronaut in 2026 is also dependent on China’s space station. For this, two Pakistani astronauts will be trained in China.
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Current Status: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said to promote Space Science. But independent capacity has not been created yet. The plan to send spacecraft to the moon by 2035 is also with the help of China.
India’s Space Agency ISRO: Great journey
ISRO started in 1969, which started 8 years later. But today ISRO is ahead in the world. Some of its big steps …
- Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan: Chandrayaan-3 (2023) made a successful landing on the moon and Mangalyaan (2013) was the first spacecraft to reach Mars.
- Gaganyaan: India’s first human mission will be launched in early 2027, in which Indian astronauts will go into space.
- Budget and Technology: The annual budget of ISRO is more than $ 1.5 billion, which is more than Suparco. It works on indigenous technology.
- Achievements: ISRO launched 104 satellites simultaneously. Also send missions to the International Space Station (ISS). Recently, Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla attended the Axiom-4 mission.
The strength of ISRO is a team of indigenous research, good funding and scientists.
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- Technical difference: ISRO independently sent missions to Mars and the moon, while all the progress of Suparco rests on China.
- strategy: India focused on education and research, while Pakistan’s focus was on the army and nuclear program.
- Future: ISRO wants to make India a space superpower by 2047, while Pakistan aims to step into space by 2040, but there is a lack of freedom.
Pak does not stay anywhere in case of satellite launch
Pakistan has launched a total of 6 satellites. These include Badar-1 (1990), Badar-B (2001), Paksat-1R (2011), PRSS-1 (2018), Pak Tes-1A (2018) and Icube-Qu (2024). The number of Pakistan is limited. Most of the China was with the help of China, while India has completed many missions independently.
India (ISRO) has so far launched more than 120 satellites. This includes Aryabhata (1975) to recent missions, including the record of launching 104 satellite (2017) at a time. India has so far launched satellites of 34 countries. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has sent 431 satellite from these countries to space. This achievement reflects the reliability and international cooperation of ISRO.
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First Astronaut in 2026: What is special?
Pakistan’s first Astronaut will go to the Chinese Space Station (CSS), where it will have to do research after training. One of them will be made a scientific payload specialist, which will use in zero-gravity. This step will further strengthen China-Pak friendship, but also shows its weakness of Suparco. The Gaganyaan Mission of India is indigenous, which makes it different.
What are the challenges and possibilities?
- Pakistan’s challenge: Lack of funding, dependence on China and shortage of scientists are slow. Terrorism and economic problems are also diverting attention.
- India’s possibility: ISRO’s focus is on education, new technology and international cooperation, which will take it forward.
- Future path: Pakistan will have to increase its research, otherwise it will always be behind China. India will have to maintain its speed.
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