The UAE's First Satellite Has Launched Into Space

The most sophisticated satellite built by the UAE has successfully launched into space.

From the southern tip of Japan in the morning of October 29th, 2018, the UAE's own satellite was launched, making a new landmark for the country's space programme.

Suitably named the KhalifaSat, the satellite is the first one to be designed, tested and manufactured entirely by Emirati engineers at the Space Technology Laboratories at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).

KhalifaSat is an Earth Observation Satellite, and is one of the world's most technologically advanced satellites, with 5 patents to its name.

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After deploying into orbit aboard the H-IIA rocket from MHI, which occurred at 8:08AM Dubai time (GMT +4), the satellite will deliver high quality images of Earth to the ground station at MBRSC. These images will help governmental and private organisations all over the world with environmental monitoring, disaster relief, urban planning and much more.

The launch has been hailed by the UAE's leaders as an "unprecedented Emirati achievement", The National reported.

And according to MBRSC, not only is KhalifaSat the UAE's most advanced Earth Observation Satellite, but it has "laid a framework for next generations of Emirati engineers."

A team of engineers from MBRSC travelled to Tanegashima island, which is 40km south of the Japanese mainland, to monitor the launch.

And now, KhalifaSat has begun its orbit successfully around the Earth.