On 12 February, Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmospheric Research Commission’s (SUPARCO) second earth-observation satellite – i.e., the Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSC-EO2) – was launched into orbit via the Chinese Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) satellite launch vehicle (SLV).
Several days later, on 15 February, SUPARCO announced the launch of its Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Pak-SBAS. The Pak-SBAS system aims to offer more precise location or navigation data by monitoring and leveraging China’s BeiDou Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
Overall, the two recent events highlight the growing integration between Pakistan’s space programs and Chinese space infrastructure (i.e., launch capacity, expertise, and controlled technologies).
These events also highlight the rapid pace of Pakistan’s space program, showcasing the seriousness with which the government (and, by extension, the security establishment) now takes space, at least compared to earlier decades, with defence likely the main driver of this growth.
Pakistan’s Growing Satellite Constellation
SUPARCO’s PRSC-EO2 satellite reached orbit on 12 February 2026 aboard a Chinese SD-3 solid-fuel rocket launched from China’s Yangjiang Seashore Launch Centre. The SD-3 carried seven satellites.
EO-2 carries a high-resolution electro-optical (EO) payload developed by SUPARCO for remote-sensing applications, such as land mapping, environmental monitoring, and disaster assessment, for example.
China’s Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) provided launch services under a multi-launch contract signed with SUPARCO in 2022. This was the first SUPARCO satellite launched from a sea-based mobile platform, a detail worth noting since SD-3’s mobile launch capability offers flexible scheduling and orbital access closer to the equator, which can be beneficial for satellites meant for sun-synchronous orbit.
SUPARCO has placed five satellites since 2024, i.e., PakSat-MM1R (May 2024), PRSC-EO1 (January 2025), PRSC-S1 (August 2025), HS-1 (October 2025), and PRSC EO2.
SUPARCO’s description of the PRSC EO-series suggests that a third satellite is also planned, though it is unclear if this would be a potential PRSC-EO3 or if it had been rolled into the hyperspectral HS-1.
In any case, Pakistan now has four remote-sensing satellites covering different modes, i.e., electro-optical imaging, hyperspectral imaging, and possibly synthetic aperture radar (SAR) via PRSC-S1.
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