The successful launch of KhalifaSat last week is proof that the UAE’s Mars probe mission is on track, the satellite's project manager said.
Amer Al Sayegh from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, was speaking at an event to celebrate the launch of the first satellite to be completely manufactured in the UAE.
He said that the team will now turn its sights on the Mars Hope Probe project with even more confidence that it will be successfully delivered on time.
The Mars Hope Probe mission is a space exploration mission to Mars, which is expected to launch in 2020 and arrive on Mars in 2021. If it stays to schedule, its arrival will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the UAE the same year.
Mr Al Sayegh did not want to divulge any more information about the project at this stage.
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At the event, which was held at the MBRSC on Monday, the first image taken by KhalifaSat and sent to the Dubai-based headquarters was shown to members of the press.
The image was of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, but it will be early 2019 before members of the public will be given the chance to see pictures taken by the satellite. The team said that this was to allow them time to make sure they are of "sufficiently high standard".
The role of KhalifaSat is yet to be determined, although a high-ranking official said that it would not be suitable for use as a military service tool.
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team at Al Zabeel Palace. Seen with them are Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed speak with the KhalifaSat engineering team. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
From left: Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid; and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, National Security Advisor, attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
From left: Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed , Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
From left: Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid receive the KhalifaSat engineering team at Al Zabeel Palace. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
From left: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Mohammed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
“That is not what we built it for," said Ammar Al Muhairi, manager of the image processing section at MBRSC.
"It is more for helping with climate change and disasters such as oil spills, forest fires and earthquakes.
KhalifaSat was launched into space from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan on October 29, a feat that was described as “an unheralded Emirati achievement” by UAE leaders.
