PRSS-1 and PakTES-1A are launched on July 9, 2018 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC), China. [Photo/SUPARCO]

ISLAMABAD, July 11 (Gwadar Pro) - PRSS-1, the first-ever Remote Sensing Satellite of Pakistan, has been orbiting the Earth for 2 consecutive years successfully, providing high resolution satellite imagery for the country so as to promote socioeconomic development.

According to Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), PRSS-1 has been successfully launched in a dual launch configuration along with Pakistan Technology Evaluation Satellite (PakTES-1A) using China’s LM-2C/SMA Launch Vehicle on July 9, 2018 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC), China, and has operated efficaciously since then.

The PRSS-1 weighing 1,200 kg and the 285 kg PakTES-1A functioned at an altitude of 640km and 610km correspondingly. The services provided by the satellites uplifted the socio-economic development of Pakistan and empowered the country in agriculture classification and assessment, urban and rural planning and water resource management.

They also helped in assessing the situation of forestation, rainfall and storage of rainwater. The satellites helped Pakistan end its reliance on commercial satellites for environmental monitoring particularly to address the challenges of floods, drought and water shortage.

As per China National Space Administration (CNSA), PRSS-1 was China's first optical remote sensing satellite exported to Pakistan. The information provided by PRSS-1 is widely used in Pakistan's land and resources survey and evaluation, dynamic monitoring and management, resource utilization, environmental disaster monitoring, agricultural survey and urban construction and so on.