A beacon for the nation

Dubai made history on July 29, 2009. It was the day the emirate got one step closer to reaching the moon. That was the day DubaiSat-1, the first remote-sensing satellite developed by a UAE entity, was launched into space.

Among the millions of satellites floating in space, DubiaSat-1 is a beacon for the people of the UAE, who have just entered the altitude of space technology. Looking at the emirate just 30 years ago, when there were no mobile phones or high-tech devices to speak of, a sense of amazement dawns when considering the leaps in development it has taken, mainly under the vision of its leaders.

In the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), a small group of engineers delivered one of those visions to further the UAE's quest for scientific and technological advancement and position it as a regional hub for the knowledge economy.

Ahmad Al Mansouri, Director-General, EIAST, said, "The UAE has established its own imprint in space research and technologies. This will enable us to provide beneficial solutions that will benefit the nation as well as larger mankind. With this, we enhance the UAE's reputation and place our nation among the ranks of developed countries and other forerunners in the field of space research."

The launch comes at a time when the country is striving for urban development, marine improvement and independence from reliance on international intelligence. DubiaSat-1 will orbit the Earth and send back images that will be used as a basis of research in telecommunications, transportation, civil engineering and constructions, mapping and geographic information system, socio-economic growth, environmental research such as land and sea pollution, migratory patterns of birds, agriculture research and management of natural disasters.

Creating opportunities

By setting up its own research development, the country will have a much greater opportunity to obtain the knowledge it needs to catch up with first-world countries, and perhaps even overtake international experts in their technological developments.

Currently, the images and data are for government use and at a later stage, it could be made available for commercial use. A whole sector based on geo-spatial research would pave the way for businesses to set up and provide much-needed services for the further development of the economy.

"Next generation space research and commercial space applications present huge opportunities for everyone involved in this area," said EIAST project manager Salem Al Marri.

While DubaiSat-1 was designed by Emirati engineers and built in South Korea, the government has plans to launch more satellites, and expects that by the third or fourth, it will be able to build one completely in the UAE. EIAST technicians have already started designing DubaiSat-2, and completion is expected within two years.

The satellite was launched into space atop a Russian Dnepr rocket from the launch pad in Baikonour in Kazakhstan under the supervision of UAE engineers and scientists. A day later, it achieved optimal position in orbit around the Earth and successfully connected with the EIAST earth observation station in Dubai. A few days later, DubaiSat-1 sent home its first image, that of Palm Jebel Ali.

"The delivery of the images from the orbiting satellite confirms the safety and efficiency of DubaiSat-1's operational processes," Al Mansouri said. "DubaiSat-1 is operating ahead of schedule, and will continue to capture and deliver images for use in all UAE civilian and environmental programmes."

With a minimum lifetime of five years in-orbit operation, the satellite is orbiting at 982km and will undergo 14 revolutions around the Earth, four to five of which will be over Dubai.

A positive note

The launch resulted in His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, sending out a statement on his Facebook page saying, "I am pleased with the successful launch of the first phase of the satellite DubaiSat-1, which has been the result of the efforts of our youth and our national experts and engineers who are working in this sector."

Financed by Dubai government, less than $50 million (Dh183.5 million) has been spent to cover the cost of the project, spanning the ground station that comprises the mission control station, image receiving and processing station, antenna and RF subsystem to the launch of the satellite.