The land of Pakistan has always produced intellectuals and extraordinary people. It owns leaders like Jinnah, scientists like Mohammad Abdus Salam, computer scientists like Arfa Karim, an artist like Ismail Gulgee, and mountaineers like Ali Sadpara. Pakistan is not just a nuclear power but is also honored to be the launcher of the first rocket into the outer atmosphere. The first rocket was named Rehbar-1 which was launched into space on the 7th of June 1962 under the flagship of Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). It was one of a milestone in Pakistan history that stands it out in the list of the world in developments.
In 1961 NASA find it out that the Indian Ocean region is the black hole of data related to the wind structure of the outer atmosphere. NASA invites all countries to work upon it in order to obtain such data through a rocket. President Ayub Khan along with Abdus Salam went on a visit to the US and decided to launch a rocket on their return back to Pakistan. Abdus Salam called Dr. Tariq Mustafa senior engineer from Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission’s (PAEC) in a meeting with NASA officials in 1961.
Dr. Tariq Mustafa led a team of five members who were Salim Mehmud, Sikandar Zaman, T. Z. Faruqi and Rehmatullah. All these scientific intellects have worked tremendously and have built the Rehbar-1 within a period of 9 months. They have taken up their energy but have successfully launched it and that surprised the world. It was built around the U.S Nike-Cajun/Apache rockets carrying sodium vapor. Though it was an experimental rocket played an important role in the development of the missile program of Pakistan. After this success, SUPARCO launched more than 200 rockets within that decade.
It was not an easy task yet it was not impossible for the scientific intellects. These intellects are the living assets of Pakistan. God has blessed each human with intellect and skills with different parameters whereas the actual thing is the exploration of the inside to stand out.
