In a groundbreaking moment for space exploration, China officially transferred data from the ICUBE-Q satellite—a joint project with Pakistan—marking a new era of lunar research! 🚀 The satellite, developed by Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology and China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University, snapped its first cosmic selfie on May 8 after detaching from the Chang’e-6 lunar probe.
At a ceremony in Beijing, Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), handed the data to Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi, alongside releasing stunning moon images 🌑 captured by the CubeSat. Talk about a stellar handshake! 🤝
The Chang’e-6 mission, launched May 3, carried four international payloads, with ICUBE-Q taking center stage in this collab. The tiny satellite zipped into lunar orbit, snapping pics and beaming them back to Earth—proving big discoveries come in small packages. 📡
“This partnership is rooted in equality, mutual benefit, and peaceful space exploration,” said Ge Ping, CNSA’s deputy director. The project, first pitched by China in 2023, involved students and scientists from both nations, blending education with interstellar innovation. 🎓✨
With this milestone, China and Pakistan are fueling dreams of deeper aerospace teamwork—and showing how global friendships can reach for the stars. 🌟
