The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), a leading Dubai Government organization working on the UAE’s space industry, is set to launch ‘MBZ-SAT’, the most advanced satellite in the region.
The satellite is scheduled to launch tonight with a 27-minute window opening at 10:49 PM (UAE time) from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
The date and time of the launch are weather-dependent and subject to other operational conditions. If necessary, a backup launch opportunity is planned for Wednesday, 15 January at the same time.
Previously, the Centre had revealed that the MBZ-SAT team had completed final tests at the SpaceX facilities, USA, with the satellite integrated on to the Falcon 9 rocket.
The cutting-edge satellite was named in honor of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. It was announced by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, back in 2020.
Last year, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and President of MBRSC, officially approved the satellite for launch.
Fully developed by Emirati engineers at MBRSC, MBZ-SAT marks a key milestone in the UAE’s space exploration journey, highlighting the UAE’s cutting-edge Earth observation capabilities. The satellite, with a total mass of 750 kg, and dimensions of 3m x 5m, has twice the imaging accuracy of its predecessors, ten times more imagery, and rapid data delivery within two hours.
The satellite is equipped with state-of-the-art electric propulsion, precise navigation, and a high-resolution camera, providing exceptional precision in imaging locations and supporting applications like environmental monitoring, infrastructure management, and disaster relief.
The development of MBZ-SAT, in collaboration with the UAE-based companies has also fueled economic growth and knowledge transfer, reinforcing the nation’s position as a global leader in space technology.
Once operational in low Earth orbit, MBZ-SAT will be controlled and managed from the Mission Control Centre at MBRSC, where the teams will monitor its operations and analyze data transmitted back to Earth.
