Blitz Bureau
The UAE successfully launched its high-precision observational satellite Etihad-SAT into space on March 15, on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This marks the nation’s second satellite to launch within the first three months of 2025, reported Khaleej Times.
The highly anticipated launch took place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the US. Shortly after its launch, the team confirmed the successful return of the first stage booster, which SpaceX said, made a “brief sonic boom” prior to landing.
This is a groundbreaking achievement for the UAE’s space ambitions and marks a significant milestone in the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre’s (MBRSC) growing contributions to space exploration and technological innovation. Etihad-SAT is a 24/7 imaging satellite, which means it can capture images of the earth round the clock — come rain, shine, or fog.
The 220kg satellite will operate at a height of 500km over the blue planet, in ‘low earth orbit’, and receives these echoes, it said. The data will then be processed with the help of artificial intelligence to produce high-resolution images.
Developed as part of a strategic partnership with South Korea’s Satrec Initiative, Etihad-SAT was designed with the involvement of MBRSC’s team, who led the technical specifications phase before moving on to preliminary design and technical validation to ensure compliance with the highest global standards. MBRSC engineers then took the lead in finalising the design and manufacturing in partnership with Satrec Initiative, reported Gulf News.
Etihad-SAT is equipped with advanced SAR technology that enables high-precision earth observation in all weather and environmental conditions, both day and night. The satellite offers three imaging modes: spot mode (high-resolution imaging for small areas), scan mode (widearea coverage for large regions), and strip mode (extended observation for longer regions).
