DubaiSat-2 launched on Thursday from the Yasny Launch Base in Russia.
The satellite, created under the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (Eiast), used the Russian Dnepr rocket launcher in cooperation with the Russian International Space Company (Kozmotras).
“We take great pride in this new accomplishment, which highlights Dubai’s great development in terms of building national UAE capacities in the space field,” said Yousuf Al Shaibani, the director general of Eiast.
He said the feat remained true to the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, of “transforming the UAE into a pioneering nation”.
“The success of launching DubaiSat-2 into outer space is the cultivation of years of vision and hard work to achieve future aspirations to make the UAE a global hub for building satellites and a leading centre for space technology,” Mr Al Shaibani said.
The next project, DubaiSat-3, has a launch date of 2017.
“DubaiSat-3 is of great importance because it is the first satellite to be built and completed by a team of UAE engineers on UAE soil,” Mr Al Shaibani said. “We look forward to increasing our investments in UAE human capital and establishing the culture of advanced scientific research and technological innovation, which serves the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan and UAE Vision 2021 in order to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy.”
Salem Al Marri, assistant general manager of scientific and technical affairs at Eiast, said the launch was “the result of our continuous efforts over the past five years, where the UAE-South Korean team worked tirelessly to develop the satellite according to the specific technical properties, particularly the orbital height of the satellite”.
DubaiSat-2 is to orbit 600 kilometres above the Earth’s surface compared with DubaiSat-1’s orbit of 682km.
“The new satellite is moving at a descending north-to-south orbit that will allow comprehensive coverage over the UAE to support better surveys and scientific research,” Mr Al Marri said.
DubaiSat-2 weighs 300 kilograms and is 2 metres high and 1.5m wide. It has been designed to provide higher quality electro-optical imagery for various applications, including environmental projects, urban planning and infrastructure.
The satellite is equipped to provide space imagery of the Earth throughout its lifetime and can take multiple images of the same area in one day, as well as receive and process these images from anywhere in the world within one day.
The satellite has automatically deployed the solar panels that are the main source of electric power needed to run the systems during its time in space, which is expected to be five years.
The satellite makes one orbit in 96 minutes, with 60 per cent of its time facing the sun.
Amer Al Sayegh, the director of the space systems development department at Eiast and Dubai Sat-3’s project manager, said: “The final data from Dubai Sat-2 will be used for several civilian applications as well as provide 3D images, follow the developments of projects and provide specialised reports.”
Eiast was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 with the goal of promoting a culture of advanced scientific research and technology innovation in the emirate and the UAE, and enhancing technology innovation and scientific skills among Emiratis.
It is mainly involved in space research and development including satellite manufacturing and systems development, space imaging and ground station services and support for other satellites.
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