DubaiSat-1, UAE Remote Sensing satellite launched

DubaiSat-1, the first remote sensing satellite developed by UAE, has achieved optimal position in orbit around the Earth and has successfully connected with the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science & Technology’s (EIAST) earth observation station in Dubai, says report.

The earth observation team is now working on DubaiSat-1’s calibration and data transfer processes before the satellite becomes fully operational, said a statement. DubaiSat-1 was launched into space at 10:46 pm UAE time on July 29 from the launch pad/base in Baikonour in Kazakhstan by a Russian rocket under the supervision of UAE engineers and scientists.

EIAST confirmed UAE engineers and scientists at the Dubai earth observation station were able to stabilise DubaiSat-1 in its 680 km orbit at 3:30 am local time after the satellite completed two successful orbits of the Earth. The team has also remotely deployed the satellite’s solar panels, which will power DubaiSat-1 for the next five years.

The launch of DubaiSat-1 consists of two segments: space and ground. The space segment comprises the development, design and manufacture of satellite equipment and components of the measurement and imaging. The ground segment includes the mission control station, image receiving and processing station, antenna and RF subsystem. Images from DubaiSat-1 can be used for a variety of applications from urban development, scientific research, telecommunications, transportation to civil engineering and constructions, mapping and GIS.