Pakistan’s first indigenous lunar rover to land on moon in 2028

Pakistan will send its first indigenous moon rover to the lunar south pole in 2028 as part of China’s Chang’e 8 mission, marking a significant milestone in the country’s space exploration program.

Dr Qamarul Islam, director of the Pakistan Institute of Space Technology, told Nukta that the rover will be designed and built in Pakistan. It will weigh approximately 35 kilograms and be launched aboard the Chang’e 8 mission from China’s Hainan launch site.

"Primarily, four sites have been shortlisted, with the lunar south pole being of particular interest from a research perspective," Qamar explained.

The lunar south pole is considered a critical site for scientific research due to its potential resources and challenging terrain. Dr Qamar highlighted that Pakistan’s rover would conduct experiments to study the moon’s geological profile, test resource utilization techniques, and evaluate its performance on the lunar surface.

The research focus of Chang’e-8, in collaboration with Pakistan, will include investigations into the moon’s multi-physics environment, geological profiling, and resource utilization experiments. These studies are expected to enhance the understanding of the moon and its potential for supporting long-term human presence.

The Chang’e-8 mission, a robotic exploration of the lunar south pole, is a key step in China's broader lunar program. Scheduled for launch in 2028, it aims to test technologies critical for future exploration and establish the foundation for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The mission will include a lander, a rover, and a robot, all designed to perform groundbreaking experiments.

These experiments include in-situ resource utilization (such as using 3D printing to create bricks from lunar regolith), terrestrial ecosystem studies, and tests for sustained human presence. The mission will also conduct soil analysis and other scientific experiments.

Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is collaborating with China on this mission.

In November 2024, SUPARCO formally announced its partnership with China for this groundbreaking mission. The collaboration signifies Pakistan’s entry into an exclusive group of countries actively contributing to lunar exploration.

Additionally, Pakistan and Belarus recently joined the ILRS coalition, which is spearheaded by China and Russia. According to space.com, the ILRS now includes seven member nations: China, Russia, Pakistan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Venezuela, and South Africa.

While some of these countries are not space heavyweights, their participation highlights China’s emphasis on fostering diverse international partnerships.

China has also pledged to send astronauts to the moon by 2030, underscoring its commitment to becoming a leader in lunar and planetary exploration.