The UAE space programme plans to build a city on Mars someday, though it also has projects that are much closer to home. One of these is KhalifaSat, the first ever UAE-built satellite made entirely by Emirati engineers, and it’s going to be launched very soon!
The Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced that KhalifaSat will be launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan on October 29, 2018. He shared the news recently on Twitter:
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre is set to launch Khalifa Sat from the Tanigashima Space Center in Japan into space on October 29 this year. pic.twitter.com/Nt44lcDDOj
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) August 29, 2018
“KhalifaSat” to be Launched Next Month
The Crown Prince also happens to be the Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre as well as General Supervisor of its projects. He described the launching of KhalifaSat as a major step towards accomplishing the UAE’s space strategy, WAM News Agency reported.
“We are proud of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, where a team made up entirely of young Emirati engineers have developed the first Emirati satellite, KhalifaSat,” HH Sheikh Hamdan declared. “This is an important milestone for our country, an achievement made possible because our leadership supports Emirati youth and encourages them to excel in the fields of innovation and technological development.”
HH Sheikh Hamdan also attributed the team’s success to the trust and support of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Proud of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, where a team made up entirely of young Emirati engineers have developed the first Emirati satellite, Khalifa Sat. pic.twitter.com/uUTJtax4Pi
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) August 29, 2018
Fast Facts About the Satellite
Did you know? The KhalifaSat:
- Is the first satellite built entirely by Emirati engineers in the UAE.
- Is designed to capture detailed, state-of-the-art imagery from space.
- Will be launched on October 29, 2018 from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.
- Joins two UAE imaging satellites already orbiting the Earth: DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2.
Image Credit: WAM News Agency
Milestones in Space
Aside from the launching of KhalifaSat, the country also celebrates another milestone: UAE’s first astronauts to the International Space Station! HH Sheikh commended the two astronauts — Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Nayadi — just recently on Twitter:
We announced today our first astronauts to the International Space Station: Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Nayadi. Hazza and Sultan represent all young Arabs and represent the pinnacle of the UAE’s ambitions.
Congratulations to the people and youth of the Emirates pic.twitter.com/UNqRXdtsjS
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) September 3, 2018
Congratulations to the UAE for these amazing achievements! We are amazed and proud to be witnessing these breakthroughs. Meanwhile, HH Sheikh Hamdan is set to lead another important event soon — Dubai Fitness Challenge 2018! Let’s all get fit and fab by joining this initiative!