The Fi-1 satellite is ready for launch as part of the Access to Space for All initiative
Dubai, 18 November / WAM / The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center announced the readiness of the Fi-1 satellite for launch, which is the first standard platform to be developed within the initiative to host satellite payloads in partnership with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs as part of the Access to Space for All initiative. The satellite is scheduled to be launched tomorrow, November 19, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Base in California, USA.
Phi 1 represents a qualitative step in the UAE’s journey towards enabling countries and institutions to access space and enhancing international cooperation in the fields of science and technology. The satellite was completely developed and assembled in Dubai to embody the country’s vision of investing in innovation and enabling global partners to test new technologies in orbit.
Amer Al Sayegh Al Ghafri, Assistant Director General for Space Engineering at the Center, said that the mission embodies the UAE’s vision of creating equal opportunities for all and contributing to building a sustainable future based on knowledge in the field of space exploration, noting that the development of the entire moon in the country reflects the UAE’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation and empowering the next generation of engineers and researchers.
For her part, Artie Hula Maini, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, said that the launch of FI-1 embodies the true power of international cooperation and the ability to transform ideas into realistic space projects, stressing that the initiative provides a multilateral platform that enables new parties to acquire advanced expertise and enhance their national programs.
Fi-1 is a standard satellite of the CubeSat 12U class, with a weight of twenty kilograms and an operational life of approximately one year. It was designed to enable partners to test new technologies in low Earth orbit. The satellite hosts a group of international payloads, including a safety payload from the Bahrain Space Agency, a long-range communications system from Nepal, a space imaging payload from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, in addition to a Luna payload from the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology.
The satellite was fully developed and equipped at the center’s facilities in Dubai, and technical support was provided for integration and testing operations to ensure operational readiness. When it reaches its orbit at an altitude of about five hundred kilometers, it will begin sending data to the control station for analysis and sharing with the participating scientific authorities.
The FI-1 mission embodies the UAE’s growing role in building a global space system based on cooperation, knowledge exchange, and supporting sustainable development goals by developing human capabilities and promoting innovation in the space sector.
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