The first satellite built by Emirati engineers in the UAE has been transported to South Korea.
The KhalifaSat, developed at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, was flown to Seoul in a specially chartered SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter aircraft.
“It has been a journey of nearly five years from the time the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre commenced the manufacture of KhalifaSat to now where we’re getting ready for the final launch,” said Salem Al Marri, assistant director general for scientific and technical affairs at the space centre.
The remote sensing satellite will be launched this year. When placed in a low earth orbit of about 613 kilometres, it will provide detailed images of earth that can be used in several industries.
KhalifaSat is the third satellite owned by the space centre following the launch of Dubai-1 and Dubai-2.
The project was launched in 2013 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Space engineers worked with Emirates SkyCargo for three months to ensure smooth transportation, according to an Emirates statement.
Due to the sensitivity of the shipment, teams from both organisations cooperated from November last year to carefully plan moving the satellite from Dubai to Incheon International airport.
Police escorted the satellite when it was ferried in a truck from the space centre’s manufacturing facility to the freighter cargo terminal.
Trial loading exercises were also conducted ahead of the transportation.
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“Over the years Emirates SkyCargo has transported a wide variety of unusual cargo but being able to transport the first satellite manufactured in the UAE is a unique honour,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president for cargo.
Massive equipment for music concerts to yachts and large aircraft engines have been transported on charter flights by the cargo division.
