Pakistan Set to Launch Its First Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite
The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has announced the upcoming launch of Pakistan’s first Hyperspectral Satellite (HS-1) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC), China, scheduled for 19 October 2025.
In the agriculture sector, HS-1 will enable precision farming through high-resolution hyperspectral data acquisition and calibration. The satellite will provide detailed insights into crop health, soil moisture, and irrigation patterns, enhancing yield estimation by 15 to 20% and contributing significantly to food security.
For urban development, the satellite’s cutting-edge sensors will help monitor environmental changes, map infrastructure, and assess urban growth patterns. By capturing unique spectral signatures of man-made structures, HS-1 will support sustainable city planning, land-use assessment, and efficient resource management.
In environmental monitoring and disaster management, HS-1 will serve as a vital tool for early warning and rapid response. Its advanced imaging capabilities will aid in flood prediction, landslide tracking, and geo-hazard assessment, particularly across the Karakoram Highway and northern Pakistan. The satellite will also enhance post-disaster assessment, transportation network analysis, and water resource modeling—providing timely data on floods, earthquakes, deforestation, and land degradation.
The integration of HS-1 into Pakistan’s expanding remote sensing fleet, comprising PRSS-1 (launched July 2018), EO-1 (launched January 2025), and KS-1 (launched July 2025), will significantly strengthen the nation’s space-based infrastructure.
