The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has announced the launch of Pakistan’s first Hyperspectral Satellite (HS-1), scheduled for October 19, 2025, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in China.
HS-1 will play a transformative role in the agricultural sector by enabling precision farming through high-resolution hyperspectral data. The satellite will offer valuable insights into crop health, soil moisture, and irrigation patterns, potentially boosting yield estimates by 15 to 20%. This will significantly enhance food security efforts across the country.
In the realm of urban development, HS-1’s advanced sensors will be used to track environmental changes, map infrastructure, and analyze urban growth. The satellite will provide detailed spectral data on man-made structures, aiding in sustainable city planning, land-use evaluation, and efficient resource management.
HS-1 will also be a crucial tool for environmental monitoring and disaster management. Its advanced imaging capabilities will support flood prediction, landslide monitoring, and geo-hazard assessment, particularly in areas like the Karakoram Highway and northern Pakistan. The satellite will also assist in post-disaster evaluations, transportation analysis, and water resource modeling, providing real-time data on floods, earthquakes, deforestation, and land degradation.
As part of Pakistan’s expanding remote sensing fleet, HS-1 will join the ranks of PRSS-1 (launched in July 2018), EO-1 (launched in January 2025), and KS-1 (launched in July 2025). Together, these satellites will significantly enhance Pakistan’s space-based capabilities.
