Pakistan achieved a historic milestone in its national space program with the successful launch of its second indigenously developed Earth Observation Satellite, PRSC-EO-2, on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
The satellite was launched from the Yangjiang Seashore Launch Center in China, representing a significant leap in Pakistan’s self-reliance in advanced space technology.
Pakistan achieves another space milestone with the successful launch of PRSC-EO2 in partnership with China. This success reflects our growing technological footprint and is yet another manifestation of the enduring Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership that…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 12, 2026
Launch Details and Technical Highlights
Developed by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the EO-2 mission is notable for several “firsts”:
- Seaborne Launch: This marked the first time a Pakistani satellite was launched using China’s sea-based mobile launch platform (the Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket) off the coast of Guangdong province.
- Indigenous Engineering: The satellite was conceptualized, engineered, and integrated domestically at SUPARCO’s Satellite Research and Development Centre.
- Fleet Expansion: This is Pakistan’s fifth Earth observation satellite and its second indigenous electro-optical satellite (following the EO-1 launched in 2025).
Strategic and Civilian Applications
The high-resolution imaging capabilities of EO-2 are designed to provide critical geospatial data for several key sectors:
| Sector | Application of EO-2 Data |
| Agriculture | Crop monitoring, yield estimation, and food security planning. |
| Disaster Management | Real-time tracking of floods, landslides, and climate-related hazards. |
| Urban Planning | Mapping urban expansion and infrastructure development. |
| Natural Resources | Monitoring water bodies, mineral deposits, and forest cover. |
| Governance | Evidence-based policy making and strategic resource management. |
National and Global Recognition
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both issued messages of congratulation, hailing the launch as a symbol of the “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” between Pakistan and China.
PM Shehbaz Sharif: “This success reflects our growing technological footprint and manifest’s our enduring partnership with China which is now transcending into space.”
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also commended SUPARCO scientists, noting that the mission ensures “data continuity and precision” for Pakistan’s independent remote sensing needs.
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Human Spaceflight Program
The EO-2 launch comes just days after the ISPR announced (on Feb 7) that two Pakistani candidates have been shortlisted for the Human Spaceflight Programme. They will soon undergo training in China, with one eventually destined for the Tiangong Space Station.
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