The launch of four Arab satellites – including the UAE's environment nanosat – has been delayed again as the Russian space agency rechecks the rocket that will carry the payloads into space.
The initial launch date on Saturday was postponed until Sunday, after a voltage spike in the Fregat upper stage of the Soyuz-2.1a rocket.
It was then put back to Monday.
The Soyuz-2.1a is due to carry 38 payloads from 18 countries into space, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
These include the UAE satellite, two from Saudi Arabia and one from Tunisia. The main payload is South Korea’s CAS500-1 spacecraft.
Dmitry Rogozin, director general of Russian space agency Roscosmos, said technicians will retest the Fregat upper stage and, if the results are satisfactory, the launch would take place on March 22.
"At the Baikonur Cosmodrome on March 20, a meeting of the commission was held, during which the results of tests of the Soyuz-2.1a space rocket were considered, after a technical malfunction that morning," Roscosmos said in a statement.
“After hearing the reports of the work supervisors, the members of the commission decided to launch on the morning of Monday, March 22.”
The launch scheduled for Saturday was called off about 35 minutes before lift-off, which was scheduled for 10.07am, Gulf Standard Time.
A 24-hour postponement was announced at first, but then the Monday launch date was given.
The UAE is launching a nanometric environment satellite, called DMSat-1. It will help Dubai Municipality and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) create an air quality map of the UAE, as it measures air pollutant sources across the Emirates.
“The satellite will have scientific instruments on board that will detect air pollution, monitor greenhouse gases – mainly methane, carbon dioxide – and the concentration of water in the air,” said Adnan Al Rais, DMSat-1 programme director at MBRSC.
Saudi Arabia's Shaheen Sat satellite will be used for photography and maritime tracking. University students designed the second satellite for educational use.
Tunisia's first satellite, Challenge One, was meant to be launched on the country's Independence Day on March 20. It will focus on the Internet of Things and is a precursor to a constellation of 30 other satellites.
The Arab Space Co-operation Group was founded in 2019.
More than 11 Arab countries across the Middle East and North African region are part of the organisation.
Since its formation, Arab countries have either revived their space programmes or have started new ones.
Saudi Arabia has increased its space programme funding and is eyeing a mission to Mars and the Moon.
UAE's mission to Mars – in pictures
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid personally thank staff from mission control in Dubai after Hope probe's successful orbit entry on February 9. The National -
A man celebrates at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
An event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Guests arrive at the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A guest attending the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Burj Park was set up for people to watch the Hope probe attempt its Mars orbit insertion. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter -
UAE Mars Mission engineer, Hessa Al Matroushi, was interviewed at a Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Engineer Hessa Al Matroushi attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
TV crews get ready at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
An event at Dubai's Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Guests and media arrive at an event at Burj Park to witness Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The Burj Khalifa lights up at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The UAE Flag area on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi lights up in red to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National -
The ADNOC Headquarters lights up in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed celebrates with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to mark the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
