Video First UAE built satellite flies to South Korea
Watch a video that captures the various milestones of KhalifaSat's journey
The first Emirati-designed satellite is now sitting on a runway
at Incheon Airport in South Korea.
After nearly four months of collaboration between Emirates SkyCargo and the
Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), KhalifaSat has been safely
transported from Dubai World Central airport to Incheon International
Airport in South Korea.
The KhalifaSat project was launched in 2013 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and
Ruler of Dubai, with the aim of manufacturing the first space satellite on
UAE soil. Following its launch in 2018, the remote sensing satellite will
provide images of earth for practical application in a variety of
industries.
Over the years Emirates SkyCargo has transported a wide variety of unusual
cargo but being able to transport the first satellite manufactured in the
UAE is a unique honour. We are delighted to bring our expertise in air
transportation to the table on this historic and momentous occasion, said
Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.
The #UAE history has witnessed one of the proudest moments, as the most
advanced Earth Observation Satellite, @KhalifaSat has been shipped to its
launch location! It is the first-ever satellite built in its entirety by the
Emirati engineers! #Milestone #proudmoment @emirates
pic.twitter.com5gz5qBaOif
- MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 15, 2018
KhalifaSat was sent aboard a Boeing 777 specially chartered aircraft after
being carefully moved from the MBRSC's manufacturing headquarters in Dubai
accompanied by an armed escort for maximum security purposes along a
geo-fenced route.
It has been a journey of nearly five years from the time the Mohammed Bin
Rashid Space Centre commenced the manufacture of KhalifaSat to now where
we're getting ready for the final launch, said Salem Al Marri, Assistant
Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs, Mohammed Bin Rashid
Space Centre.
KhalifaSat has the honour of being the first fully Emirati-designed and
developed satellite manufactured on UAE soil.
Special teams were involved in the monitoring of the satellite's
transportation in order to ensure that the sensitive instrumentation was not
damaged in the process.
The satellite is set to launch later this year and will be responsible for
beaming down images culled by its remote sensing equipment.
