Pakistan miniature satellite to land on moon with China's probe

Pakistan will land on the moon with China. China space expert Andrew Jones tweeted on Thursday that Pakistan's ICECUBE-Q cubesat will fly to the far side of the moon in Beijing's lunar sample return mission, Change-6, slated for launch in 2025.

The role of the Pakistani instrument is to detect ice traces on the moon. Cubesats are miniature satellites based around a form factor consisting of 10cm cubes and weighing 2kg each.

Experts believe the plans assume significance in the context of China planning a manned moon mission that could include an astronaut from Pakistan as well.