Pakistan’s first lunar rover has officially been named “Jinnah-1,” the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) announced Thursday.
The name was chosen by a jury after reviewing more than 4,000 entries submitted from across the country as part of a nationwide competition. The large number of entries showed strong public interest in Pakistan’s space exploration program.
According to SUPARCO, seven people had suggested the name “Jinnah-1.” A draw was later held during a special ceremony to fairly select the winner from among them.
Speaking at the ceremony, SUPARCO Chairman Muhammad Yousuf Khan praised the public for taking part in the competition. He also highlighted the national importance of naming the rover after Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.
He said “Jinnah-1” is more than just a name and represents the resilience, determination and desire for progress shown by the country’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
He added that naming Pakistan’s first lunar rover after Jinnah sends a strong message to the world that Pakistan is prepared to take his legacy, determination, hard work and leadership into new areas, especially space exploration.
SUPARCO said Jinnah-1 is planned to travel to the Moon’s south pole in 2029 as part of China’s Chang’E-8 mission.
The locally developed rover will carry advanced scientific instruments to study lunar plasma and radiation, map the Moon’s surface and conduct experiments that will support future lunar research and the possibility of a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
The mission is an important step in Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its space science capabilities and expand its work in lunar exploration.
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