In 1960, President John F. Kennedy challenged US scientists to land an American on the Moon and bring him back safely to Earth, before the decade was out.

President Ayub Khan accompanied by his Chief Scientific Advisor Prof. Abdus Salam were on a state visit in the U.S. at the time.

The 5-member team responsible for this pioneering program was led by Tariq Mustafa and also included Salim Mehmud and Sikander Zaman, both of whom later became Chairmen of SUPARCO.

Pakistan was the first amongst all developing (including Brazil, China and India)[dubious – discuss] and Islamic countries to carry out a scientific rocketry program.

The Rehbar-I successful launch carried a payload of 80 pounds of sodium and it streaked up about 130 km into the atmosphere.