The chronology of Pakistan's rocket tests entails the series of sounding rocket launches conducted by the Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) aimed at advancing Pakistan's space program. These launches were instrumental in developing high-altitude rockets, fostering scientific exploration, and providing invaluable data for research in physics and atmospheric sciences.
Commencing in 1962 and continuing until its partial termination in 1972, SUPARCO successfully launched over 200 sounding rockets. These missions were pivotal in studying the upper atmosphere, including investigations into temperature gradients, wind velocities, and atmospheric density.
An important milestone in Pakistan's space exploration history was the successful launch of Rehbar-I, signifying the nation's pioneering role among developing countries, the Islamic world, and South Asia. Ranking third in Asia, this achievement underscored Pakistan's growing prominence in the field of space exploration.
Originally conceived as a SUPARCO initiative, the space mission program remains active to this day. Over time, various aerospace authorities and institutions, both domestically and through international collaborations, have assumed roles in advancing Pakistan's space capabilities. Since the late 1980s, the focus has shifted towards research and development, with an emphasis on ballistic missile testing alongside continued scientific exploration.
Spaceflight by year Rocket launch Launch Date Mission Institutional authority Launch site Outcomes Derived from Rehbar-I June 7, 1962; 14:45 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Nike-Cajun Rehbar-II June 11, 1962; 14:50 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Nike-Cajun Rehbar-3 March 18, 1964; 14:50 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Judi-Dart Rehbar-4 January 12, 1966; 12:30 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehbar-5 January 26, 1966; 12:18 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehbar-6 February 16, 1966; 04:30 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehbar-7 January 26, 1966; 12:18 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehbar-15 May 3, 1967; 14:29 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Centaure Shahpar-1 May 5, 1967; 14:29 GMT Test Mission SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Dragon Rehbar-16 May 7, 1967; 14:30 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Centaure Rehbar-17 March 23, 1968; 19:04 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Centaure Shahpar-2 March 29, 1968; 19:20 GMT Test Mission SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Dragon Rehbar-18 April 3, 1968; 05:38 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Centaure Rehbar-19 February 9, 1969; 13:46 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Failure Centaure Rehbar-20 February 13, 1969; 13:48 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Failure Centaure Rehnuma-1 March 31, 1969; 14:18 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Partial Success Centaure Rehnuma-2 June 16, 1969; 14:34 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehnuma-3 July 20, 1969; 14:30 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehnuma-4 July 30, 1969; 14:45 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehnuma-5 August 15, 1969; 14:30 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehnuma-6 September 10, 1969; 14:30 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehnuma-7 October 22, 1969; 13:50 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehnuma-8 November 19, 1969; 13:10 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehnuma-9 November 20, 1969; 13:50 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehnuma-10 December 17, 1969; 13:10 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehnuma-11 December 31, 1969; 13:50 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Judi-Dart 1 January 14, 1970; 13:00 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Judi-Dart 1 January 14, 1970; 15:15 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Judi-Dart 1 January 14, 1970; 14:00 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Judi-Dart 1 February 11, 1970; 13:30 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Judi-Dart 2 March 11, 1970; 14:30 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Judi-Dart 2 March 11, 1970; 14:30 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Rehbar 21 March 27, 1970; 00:00 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Nike-Cajun Rehbar 22 March 28, 1970; 15:45 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Nike-Cajun Judi-Dart 2March 28, 1970; 00:00 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart Judi-Dart 1 April 15, 1970; 14:45 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi Dart Judi-Dart 1 April 15, 1970; 13:45 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi Dart Judi-Dart 1 June 17, 1970; 14:50 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi Dart Judi-Dart 1 July 15, 1970; 15:05 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi Dart Judi-Dart 1 October 21, 1970; 15:45 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi Dart Judi-Dart 1 November 25, 1970; 13:14 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi Dart Judi-Dart 1 December 30, 1970; 14:50 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Judi Dart Rehbar-23 April 7, 1972; 14:20 GMT Ionosphere Mission SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Centaure Rehbar-24 April 8, 1972; 14:18 GMT Ionosphere Mission SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Centaure Shahpar-3 April 28, 1972; 00:18 GMT Test Mission SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success CentaureHatf-IOctober 20, 1989; 00:00 GMTTest MissionSUPARCOFlight Test RangeSuccessAbdali-IMarch 3, 2007Test missionSUPARCOFlight Test RangeSuccess
References
External links Astronautix: Pakistan