ISLAMABAD: The first hyperspectral satellite of Pakistan, HS-1, is going to be launched into space today which is considered to be a great step forward for the country in the area of high-resolution space-based monitoring and data applications.
The ‘Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission’ (SUPARCO) made it known that the HS-1 satellite’s launch will take place at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) in China.
SUPARCO stated in the launch announcement that: “The launch of HS-1 signifies a new era in the creation of space-based applications for agriculture, disaster management, urban development, and monitoring of the environment.”
SUPARCO elaborated that the HS-1 satellite’s ability to perform hyperspectral imaging will allow farmers to practice precision agriculture by capturing very detailed spectral data, which can then be used to assess the health of the crops, moisture content in the soil, and the efficiency of irrigation.
“In detailed views of crop health, soil moisture, and irrigation patterns, the satellite will be able to show the whole picture,” the commission explained, adding that this technology could directly result in a national food security uplift of 15–20 percent through improved yield estimations.
The agency confirmed that HS-1 would be instrumental in urban planning and environmental management. The satellite fitted with ultra-modern sensors will play a part in mapping of the cities’ infrastructure, checking the environmental alteration, and deducing the significant areas of the city’s growth.
“This will very much aid city planning for sustainability, land-use examination and the management of resources in a more effective manner,” stated SUPARCO.
SUPARCO has highlighted the fact that the satellite will be a major support in early warning systems and disaster management. Its cutting-edge imaging science will make prediction of floods, tracing of land slides, and the conducting of geo-hazard studies easier, especially in the western and northern parts of Pakistan, which are under the ambient conditions of mountains and earthquakes that includes the Karakoram Highway.
“HS-1 will not only augment disaster preparedness but also provide timely data in the case of floods, earthquakes, deforestation, and land degradation,” the statement further said.
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The launch of HS-1 marks an important step in Pakistan’s quest to be self-sufficient in remote sensing and to build up its space-based infrastructure. SUPARCO said the mission supports the National Space Policy and SUPARCO Vision 2047, which together plan to make Pakistan the region’s technology and innovation leader in satellite applications.
