China successfully launched a Pakistani satellite into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. File
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

China successfully launched a Pakistani satellite into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Friday (January 17, 2025).

The satellite, named PRSC-EO1, was launched at 12:07 p.m. (Beijing Time) by a Long March-2D carrier rocket and entered its planned orbit successfully, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The rocket also carried two other satellites – Tianlu-1 and Lantan-1. This launch marked the 556th flight mission involving the Long March carrier rocket series.

China has been launching satellites for Pakistan in the last few years broadening their all-weather alliance into the space arena.

Last year, China launched a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan.

In 2018, China sent two Pakistan satellites into orbit. The PRSS-1, Pakistan’s first optical remote sensing satellite, and the PakTES-1A, a smaller observation craft.