The start of the final testing phase of the “SharjahSat-2” satellite

The Sharjah Academy for Space and Astronomy Science and Technology, affiliated with the University of Sharjah, began the final testing phase of the “SharjahSat-2” cube satellite, during the Academy delegation’s visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as part of following up on the final assembly and testing stages of the project before launch.

The delegation made a field visit to a company Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISPACE) Specializing in developing and assembling cubesats and advanced space systems, he was briefed on the progress of work in the “SharjahSat-2” project, which is being implemented by the academy’s cubesat laboratory team, in cooperation with a number of national entities, including the Sharjah Municipality, the Department of Planning and Survey, and the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority.

The visit aimed to follow up on assembly and testing activities (AIT) for the six-unit cube satellite, which is considered one of the most important stages of the project before launch, as it included functional and environmental performance tests, verifying the integration of the subsystems as a single unit, in addition to examining the power systems and safety conditions, and evaluating the communication systems to ensure their efficiency in receiving commands from the ground station and sending data, in addition to verifying the readiness of the flight software, as part of reviewing the procedures for preparing the satellite for the launch scheduled during the first quarter of 2026.

The visit also included an inspection tour of the company’s testing facilities, which included a thermal vacuum chamber that simulates the harsh conditions of outer space in terms of vacuum and high and low temperatures, in addition to viewing the mechanical vibration devices that simulate the vibrations accompanying the launch process, with the aim of ensuring the integrity of the structure and the cohesion of systems and components.

At the end of the visit, the delegation participated in a number of technical and coordination meetings with systems engineers, in addition to attending an introductory workshop on standards. IPC Approved in the manufacture, assembly and inspection of electronic systems, and access to quality control procedures, including inspection and auditing mechanisms, component acceptance criteria and methods for documenting results, which reflects the readiness of the satellite to move to the subsequent stages of the project.

It is noteworthy that the cube satellite “SharjahSat-2” is equipped with a spectroscopic imaging camera dedicated to the missions of monitoring the Earth and studying its natural resources, capable of providing high-resolution images of up to five metres, which contributes to supporting the efforts of the Emirate of Sharjah in the areas of urban planning, monitoring environmental changes, managing natural resources, enhancing emergency and disaster response, in addition to supporting vital sectors such as sustainable agriculture, protecting coastal areas, enhancing national capabilities in the field of space technologies and building local scientific competencies.