The UAE’s space programme will reach greater heights with the launch of DubaiSat-2 in late 2012 as Emirati engineers working on the project unveiled the technical specifications and designs of the new satellite at a Press briefing on Wednesday. The satellite will feature advanced ‘integrated technology’ that is being used for the first time in a space vehicle.
“The design, equipment and techniques in DubaiSat-2 are a result of the learning from our experience with DubaiSat-1,” said Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director-General, Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST).
DubaiSat-2 will feature technical improvements marked by improved data connectivity speeds that will allow the satellite to capture and send images from a wider area to the ground station. The other improvements include better image resolution, electrical propulsion, state-of-the-art camera and sensors.
Salem Al Marri, Head of Space Programme at the EIAST, said the satellite would be among the best in its class when launched. “This is the first time the design has been launched and a UAE national team is the driving force behind its creation,” said Salem.
The DubaiSat-2 project is being designed and manufactured as a joint development between the EIAST and the Satrec initiative of South Korea, in which 16 UAE engineers have contributed to the design, development, testing and manufacture of the satellite.
The satellite will be launched onboard Russia’s Dnepr Rocket as part of a clustered launch, in which DubaiSat-2 will be the primary satellite on board. “The UAE team of engineers benefited from their first experiences with DubaiSat-1 as they have learnt about satellite systems development.
The UAE has made giant strides in the path of scientific research and technical progress with their involvement,” said Salem. The new satellite makes use of improved communication with the ground station, which in turn will allow the satellite to send images at a faster pace. DubaiSat-1, which was launched in 2009, has been effectively used to support relief operations during the floods in Pakistan, Japan earthquake and more recently, during the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima.
“Disaster management is one of the key areas which we have served and the new satellite will be able provide daily, weekly or monthly updates of the same area,” added Salem.
Town-planning experts, environmentalists, commercial enterprises and universities will use images captured by DubaiSat-2 to undertake various planning, research and assessment activities. The space programme being developed in Dubai has cost over $50 million, as the launch of DubaiSat-2 will help commercialise the venture through image sales in the international market.