• ¨     Jinnah-1 is Pakistan’s first-ever lunar rover, named by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).

    ¨     Jinnah-1 is planned to be launched in 2029 aboard China’s Chang’e-8 mission.

    ¨     The rover is intended to explore the Moon’s south polar region.

    ¨     SUPARCO is Pakistan’s national space agency, established in 1961.

    ¨     SUPARCO works in areas such as satellite development, space science and remote sensing.

    ¨     The name Jinnah-1 honours Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

    ¨     The name was selected through a nationwide public competition, which received more than 4,000 submissions.

    ¨     Chang’e-8 is a Chinese robotic lunar mission and part of China’s broader Chang’e lunar exploration programme.

    ¨     Chang’e-8 is associated with the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a China-led framework for long-term lunar exploration.

    ¨     SUPARCO and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Beijing on 5 February 2025.

    ¨     The agreement covers Pakistan’s participation in the integration of the Jinnah-1 rover with the Chang’e-8 mission.

    ¨     Jinnah-1 is reported to weigh approximately 35 kilograms.

    ¨     The rover will study the Moon’s plasma, radiation and surface geology.

    ¨     The Moon’s south polar region is scientifically important because it contains permanently shadowed regions.

    ¨     The region is also important for studying the Moon’s geological characteristics and potential resources.

    ¨     The mission is expected to include collaborative scientific payloads developed by Chinese and European scientists.