Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center announces the start of preparations for the launch of the “Mohammed bin Zayed Sat” satellite.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center announced today the start of final preparations for the launch of “Mohamed bin Zayed Sat”, the most advanced satellite in the region.

This came during a press conference held at the center’s headquarters in Dubai, in the presence of Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General of the Center, Amer Al Sayegh Al Ghafri, Director of the “Mohamed Bin Zayed Sat” Project, and Hessa Ali Hussein, Deputy Project Director, in addition to the work team responsible for the satellite, And a large number of representatives of international and local media.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, announced the mission in 2020, when the satellite was named after the name of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him. God.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, had officially approved the launch of the satellite earlier in 2024.

After its development in the UAE, Mohammed bin Zayed Sat, the most advanced satellite in the region, was transferred to the Korea Space Research Institute in South Korea, where environmental tests were successfully completed.

These rigorous tests, aimed at ensuring that the satellite can withstand the harsh conditions of space, included thermal vacuum tests, vibration tests, acoustics tests, and mass properties tests. The satellite was then transported to the launch site in the United States of America for final preparations.

Salem Humaid Al Marri said: “The Mohammed bin Zayed Sat satellite has a special importance in the UAE’s journey, as it reflects its firm commitment to progress and innovation thanks to the vision of our wise leadership. Mohammed bin Zayed Sat is not just a technological achievement, but rather an embodiment of the UAE’s will to… Leadership in the field of space science, and its continued endeavor to contribute effectively to the global space community, and with every step we take towards the future, we emphasize our role in empowering future generations and realizing their ambitions to benefit from the potential of space science to support humanity and promoting sustainable development on planet Earth.”

Technical capabilities
The Mohammed bin Zayed Sat satellite, which was entirely developed by a team of Emirati engineers at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, represents a pivotal step in the UAE’s journey towards leadership in the field of space exploration. This satellite embodies the country’s commitment to benefit from advanced space technologies to support sustainable development and enhance global cooperation.

“Mohamed bin Zayed Sat” is distinguished by its advanced capabilities that set a new standard in the field of Earth observation, as it provides an accuracy in capturing images that is twice as high as its predecessors, and will be able to capture 10 times more images than traditional satellites.

These images will be processed and delivered in less than two hours, enabling vital applications in diverse fields such as environmental monitoring, disaster relief, and infrastructure management, helping decision-makers take quick and effective action.

Mohammed bin Zayed Sat also provides unprecedented accuracy in determining imaging locations. The high-resolution camera and improved data transfer speeds – four times faster than current capabilities – enhance its position as an innovative tool in the field of Earth observation.

Local partnerships
Mohammed bin Zayed Sat has contributed to strengthening the space economy in the UAE through the contribution of local companies in manufacturing 90% of its mechanical structure and most of its electronic units. This was done through cooperation with leading Emirati companies such as Strata, Emirates Global Aluminum, Halken, Falcon, EPI, and Rockford Zelerex. These partnerships not only enhance the UAE’s capabilities in space technology, but also contribute to transferring advanced knowledge and skills to Emirati talent, enhancing the country’s competitiveness in the field of space exploration on the global stage.

For his part, Amer Al Sayegh Al Ghafri said: “The Mohammed bin Zayed Sat satellite represents an important step in the field of technological innovation and precision engineering, thanks to the continuous work of our team at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. This satellite is equipped with the latest imaging systems, to provide high-quality data.” “Mohamed bin Zayed Sat represents a major advance in Earth observation, enabling applications that support a wide range of sectors, from environmental monitoring to urban planning and disaster management.”

Once launched, Mohammed bin Zayed Sat will join the UAE’s active satellite fleet, significantly enhancing the capabilities of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center in this field. The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center will operate the satellite, providing rapid data exchange around the clock via an advanced system. These imaging solutions have diverse applications including mapping, environmental monitoring, navigation, infrastructure management, and disaster relief.