MBRSC has announced the development of MBZ-SAT, which will be launched in 2023. A project that aims to achieve local and global strategic objectives.
DUBAI, U.A.E. — SpaceX has won a contract to launch an Emirati high-resolution imaging satellite on a Falcon 9 rideshare mission in 2023.The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) announced at an Oct. 27 press conference here, held during the 72nd International Astronautical Congress, that it selected SpaceX to launch its MBZ SAT satellite in the second half 2023. The center did not disclose the value of the contract.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1453261546017153029QuoteThe UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre announced at a press conference during #IAC2021 that it’s selected SpaceX to launch its MBZ SAT imaging satellite on a Falcon 9 in 2023.Its a 700 kg satellite launching to LEO, so will presumably launch on a Transporter rideshare mission.https://twitter.com/MBRSpaceCentre/status/1453263711347564554QuoteMBRSC team completed the structure model and initial tests of MBZ-SAT along with the completion of the engineering and Flatsat qualification module. The team will now begin preparations to manufacture the flight model.
The UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre announced at a press conference during #IAC2021 that it’s selected SpaceX to launch its MBZ SAT imaging satellite on a Falcon 9 in 2023.
MBRSC team completed the structure model and initial tests of MBZ-SAT along with the completion of the engineering and Flatsat qualification module. The team will now begin preparations to manufacture the flight model.
The UAE is preparing to launch the region's most advanced imaging satellite into space next year.MBZ-Sat, named after President Sheikh Mohamed, has been in development at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai for years.The 800-kilogram satellite will be carried into orbit on a SpaceX ride-share mission, on board a Falcon 9 rocket."Around 14 years ago, MBRSC launched its first Earth observation satellite, with environmental monitoring as one of its key objectives," Salem Al Marri, director general of the space centre, tweeted on Monday.
@HamdanMohammed approves MBZ-SAT for launch in October 2024
During the meeting, His Highness was briefed by the Centre’s team on the latest updates of MBZ-SAT, the most advanced satellite in the region and the second satellite being fully developed by an Emirati team. The briefing included details on the ongoing phase, which involves environmental testing crucial for ensuring the satellite's resilience and functionality in space.The team confirmed that once the environmental testing is successfully completed, the final launch preparations will commence. The MBZ-SAT is scheduled for launch no earlier than October 2024 on a SpaceX rocket.
Mass: Around 700 kgBus dimensions: 3m x 5mAltitude: 613 km (low Earth orbit)
Customers may request small dimension changes to this volume and SpaceX will reasonably consider whether the Launch Services can support such changes with minimal additional work or risks to the mission.
QuoteMass: Around 700 kgBus dimensions: 3m x 5mAltitude: 613 km (low Earth orbit)This probably exceeds the available volume of a Transporter ride share's Cake Topper...
Commenting on the progress of MBZ-SAT, H.E. Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, Chairman of MBRSC, said: "I am pleased to announce that the environmental testing for MBZ-SAT, the most advanced satellite in the region, has been successfully completed. With this milestone achieved, the satellite is now being prepared for transportation to the United States, where final preparations for its scheduled launch, as announced by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and President of MBRSC, will take place."MBZ-SAT was transported to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) in South Korea, where it underwent rigorous testing designed to ensure its resilience under the extreme conditions of space. These tests included Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) testing, Vibration testing, Acoustic testing, and Mass Properties testing, all of which MBZ-SAT passed successfully.
UAE space officials are in talks with SpaceX over a launch date for a powerful Earth observation satellite built by Emirati engineers, after the company's Falcon 9 rocket was grounded by US authorities owing to technical issues.The MBZ-Sat satellite was initially set to launch this month, but that timetable is uncertain as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completes an investigation into the issues. The SpaceX rocket has faced several setbacks this year.Amer Al Sayegh, senior director of the space engineering department at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, told The National on Tuesday that discussions were being held with SpaceX to finalise a launch date. The satellite will remain in the UAE before it is shipped to a spaceport in Florida.
“We will announce the launch date of the MBZ depending on the schedule from SpaceX. We are waiting to hear from them. So, once we get the final schedule, we will be announcing the same," Salem Al Marri, director-general of the MBRSC, told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the Space Research Conference in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and President of MBRSC, had officially approved the MBZ-SAT for launch no earlier than October 2024. The satellite, which is the latest addition to the UAE Satellite Programme, will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during the Transporter-12 Rideshare mission.
What are the key updates of MBZ-SAT and what is the strategic value of the mission?
