Pakistan launches 2nd indigenous satellite into space

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan on Thursday launched its second indigenous EO-2 satellite from China’s Yangjiang Seashore Launch Center, the country's space agency said.

The satellite will provide critical data for planning and resource management, in addition to support governance, disaster management, and strategic planning, said a statement from China’s Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission.

The satellite was among seven satellites sent into planned orbit through a Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) carrier rocket from the sea, Beijing-based Xinhua News reported.

The SD-3 commercial rocket blasted off from waters off the coast of Yangjiang in south China's Guangdong province.

Pakistan launched its first hyperspectral satellite HS-1 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwestern China last October.

In a related development, Pakistan last week shortlisted two candidates for the country’s Human Spaceflight Program by the Astronauts Center of China.

Last February, the Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission and China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) signed a cooperation agreement under which two Pakistanis would train in China, with one joining a mission on the Tiangong space station operated by Beijing.