14/08/2026
Pakistan is preparing for a historic milestone in space exploration with its first lunar rover, Jinnah-1, scheduled to travel to the Moon’s south pole aboard China’s Chang’e-8 mission.
The rover has been officially named Jinnah-1 by Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). The name was selected following a nationwide competition that received more than 4,000 proposals.
The locally developed rover is expected to conduct scientific research on the lunar surface, including studying lunar plasma and radiation, mapping geological features and testing technologies relevant to future lunar exploration and sustainable human activity.
SUPARCO says its lunar rover project is part of Pakistan’s collaboration with China’s Chang’e-8 mission and the broader International Lunar Research Station initiative. Official planning documents also identify the Pakistan Lunar Exploration Rover project as a new SUPARCO development scheme.
The latest announcement gives the rover the name Jinnah-1, while previously published official SUPARCO material has listed 2028 as the planned Chang’e-8 launch year. The exact launch schedule may therefore be subject to updates.
For Pakistan, Jinnah-1 represents more than a lunar mission. It is a significant opportunity to develop national expertise in space science, robotics, planetary research and advanced engineering.
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