Pakistan's Rover to Join China's Chang'e-8 Mission in 2028: A Leap in Lunar Exploration Collaboration

A Pakistan-developed rover is slated to fly on China's Chang'e-8 lunar lander mission in 2028, following an agreement between the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco). The Memorandum of Understanding, signed on February 5, formalizes Pakistan's participation in the Chang'e-8 mission.The 35-kilogram rover will carry scientific instruments to analyze lunar soil composition, radiation levels, and plasma properties. It will also test technologies for sustainable human presence on the Moon and include a collaborative payload developed by Chinese and European researchers.This mission marks a significant advancement for Pakistan's space program, integrating its indigenous rover into lunar exploration. The rover will occupy part of the 200 kilograms of payload space available for international cooperation on Chang'e-8.Chang'e-8, along with Chang'e-7, serves as a precursor to the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), planned for the 2030s. The mission will include a Chinese rover, two microrovers, and a robot for in-situ resource utilization tests. Preliminary landing sites include regions around Leibnitz Beta, Amundsen crater, Cabeus crater, and the Shackleton-de Gerlache Ridge.The mission lander will host 10 science payloads, including cameras, a seismometer, and telescopes. This collaboration builds on previous ventures, such as the Icube-Q cubesat on the Chang'e-6 mission and the launch of Pakistan's PRSC-EO1 satellite by China. Pakistan's involvement in the ILRS has facilitated the rover's inclusion in Chang'e-8. Other ILRS members, including Türkiye, are also contributing to the mission.