SPACE AND UPPER ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH COMMISSION (SUPARCO)

SUPARCO stands for the "Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission". It is the national space agency of Pakistan, responsible for the country's space program and research activities related to space and atmospheric sciences.

SUPARCO was established in 1961, and its primary objective is to carry out research and development activities in the areas of space technology, space science, and application of space technology for socio-economic development. Its activities include designing and developing satellites, launching them into space, conducting space research, and providing space-based services for various applications such as communication, weather forecasting, and remote sensing.

Some of SUPARCO's notable achievements include the launch of Pakistan's first indigenously developed satellite, BADR-1, in 1990, and the successful launch of the country's first remote sensing satellite, PRSS-1, in 2018. SUPARCO is also involved in international collaborations and has signed agreements with space agencies of other countries for joint space missions and research projects.

Here are some additional details about SUPARCO:

Headquarters: Islamabad, Pakistan

Director: Amer Nadeem

Established: 16th September 1961

Parent organization: Government of Pakistan

Budget: Approximately PKR 5.5 billion (as of 2021)

Objectives: SUPARCO's primary objectives are to conduct research and development activities in the fields of space technology, space science, and atmospheric sciences, and to apply space technology for socio-economic development in Pakistan.

Activities: Some of the major activities carried out by SUPARCO include designing and developing satellites, launching them into space, conducting space research, providing space-based services such as weather forecasting, remote sensing, and communication, and collaborating with other space agencies for joint space missions and research projects.

Satellites: SUPARCO has designed and developed several satellites, including Badr-1, Badr-B, and PakSat-1. The agency also launched the country's first remote sensing satellite, PRSS-1, and its communication satellite, PAKSAT-MM1.

International collaborations: SUPARCO has signed agreements with space agencies of other countries such as China, Russia, and Turkey, for joint space missions and research projects. The agency is also a member of several international organizations, including the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS) and the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO).

Overall, SUPARCO is an important organization for Pakistan's space program and has contributed significantly to the country's progress in space technology and research.