Today's Edition
AMNA AL KETBI (DUBAI)
MBZ-SAT is entering the final stages of preparations for its launch. Following successful completion of all final tests, the satellite will be transported to the launch site where final preparations for the launch, scheduled for October, will commence.
The launch will take place aboard a SpaceX rocket in the US. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) will soon announce the exact date and launch site.
A team of 36 engineers from MBRSC conducted environmental tests on the MBZ-SAT at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute in South Korea.
MBZ-SAT is the largest and most advanced commercial satellite in the region for high-resolution satellite imagery. Designed and manufactured by MBRSC, with contributions from the UAE private sector, the satellite incorporates raw materials such as aluminium, cables, and other components supplied by Emirati companies.
Equipped with cutting-edge image-capturing technologies, MBZ-SAT will aid in sustainable urban planning, monitoring environmental changes, predicting natural weather phenomena, monitoring water quality, and supporting agricultural development. Weighing over 800 kilogrammes, it will enhance image capture accuracy by more than double the capability of previous systems.
Additionally, MBZ-SAT will increase the speed of downlink data transfer by three times the current capacity. The fully automated system for image scheduling and processing will be capable of sending more than 10 times the number of images currently produced by MBRSC. Among the technologies used in the project is jet propulsion, a system that ensures the alignment of electrical actuators to move the satellite in outer space. Engineers at MBRSC have also developed a highly accurate method for directing and moving the satellite, as well as determining the locations of space images.
The project strengthens the UAE’s partnerships in space-related fields between the public and private sectors. MBZ-SAT will meet the growing commercial demand for high-resolution satellites, capable of capturing details within an area smaller than one square metre – one of the most advanced features in space. The images and data provided by the satellite will be used in various fields, including sustainable urban planning, monitoring environmental changes, predicting natural weather phenomena, and monitoring water quality.
Furthermore, MBZ-SAT will support global efforts to respond to crises and manage disasters, including damage assessment from disasters and assisting organisations in finding solutions to mitigate the effects of floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, as well as reconstruction.
The satellite will enhance image capture accuracy by more than double compared to its predecessor and will also increase data transfer and upload speeds by three times the current capabilities.
