Pakistan to send its first astronaut to space in 2022: Minister
Islamabad, Sep 16: Pakistan plans to send its first astronaut to space by 2022 with the help of its close ally China, Minister for Science and Technology has said.
The selection process for the astronaut would start in 2020, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Sunday.
China would collaborate with Pakistan in its space mission, Fawad was quoted as saying by the News International reported.
He said that initially, 50 individuals would be selected after which the list will be shortened to 25 in 2022. And out of them only one would be sent to space.
The Pakistan Air Force would play an important role in the selection process of the astronaut, the report said.
He said the collaboration of Pakistan and India in the fields of science and technology could prove fruitful for the region.
Fawad said Pakistan was the second in Asia after the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), which had sent its rocket into the space in 1963.
The Pakistan Space Science Education Center was playing an important role for the promotion of space sciences in the country, he added.
Last year, Pakistan launched two indigenously-built satellites into the orbit, using a Chinese launch vehicle.
The satellites were launched onboard the Chinese Long March (LM-2C) rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre located at the Gobi desert, China, The Express Tribune had reported.
One of them was a remote sensing satellite (PRSS1) a dual-purpose Earth observational and optical satellite.
The second test satellite launched was a PAK-TES-1A to enhance satellite manufacture capabilities in the country.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Jadeja's fifty powers CSK to 176/6 against LSG
Lucknow, Apr 19: Chennai Super Kings rode on a controlled fifty by Ravindra Jadeja to reach a strong 176 for six against Lucknow Super Giants in their Indian Premier League match here on Friday.
Apart from Jadeja (57 not out, 40b, 5x4s, 1x6), Ajinkya Rahane (36, 24b, 5x4s, 1x6), Moeen Ali (30, 20b, 3x6s) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (28 not out, 9b, 3x4s, 2x6s) too chipped in with handy contributions after CSK were asked to bat first.
For LSG, Krunal Pandya (2/16) was the most successful bowler.
LSG made one change as New Zealand pacer Matt Henry replaced his West Indian counterpart Shamar Joseph.
CSK made two changes to their eleven with Moeen Ali coming in for Daryl Mitchell and Deepak Chahar walking in for Shardul Thakur.
Brief scores:
Chennai Super Kings: 176 for 6 in 20 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 57 not out, Ajinkya Rahane 36, Moeen Ali 30, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 28 not out; Krunal Pandya 2/16).
