A university in Saudi Arabia has launched a miniature satellite to space to help researchers monitor natural resources in the kingdom and around the world.
The Earth observation nanosatellite, built by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, will collect high-resolution data across global terrestrial, coastal and ocean ecosystems.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the 6-unit CubeSat — an advanced modular satellite — to orbit from a California spaceport on Saturday.
A Dewa nanosatellite, built by Dubai's utility authority, was launched on the same ride-share mission.
“We're launching state-of-the-art technology on this satellite platform,” said Matthew McCabe, professor of remote sensing and water security at the university.
“It's shared knowledge, and a shared community resource. Developing a community of scientists and collaborators who can access this data will bring global perspectives to local and regional questions that we’re trying to address.”
The satellite has a hyperspectral imager, or scientific camera, that integrates with the on-board processing sensor, helping it to analyse data before it is beamed back to Earth.
Researchers will also use the satellite to get data that can help with the kingdom's Vision 2030 goals, such as protecting and restoring the environment.
The hyperspectral imager, for example, can be used to characterise terrestrial and marine systems.
This will allow scientists to assess conditions of rangelands, soils, mangroves and other plant communities.
“This is the type of mission that we want to be able to see into the future — building innovation and technology in the kingdom, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and facilitating further space exploration from Saudi Arabia,” Prof McCabe said.
The kingdom has a renewed interest in space exploration and has launched a long-term programme that includes satellite development, human space flight missions and deep-space missions in the future.
On May 8, two Saudi astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al Qarni, will travel to the International Space Station for a 10-day stay.
The trip comes nearly 40 years after Saudi Arabia sent its first citizen to space. Prince Sultan bin Salman spent a week on Nasa's Space Shuttle in 1985.
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 4 (Salah (pen 4, 33', & pen 88', Van Dijk (20')
Leeds United 3 (Harrison 12', Bamford 30', Klich 66')
Man of the match Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
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Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
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Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
