The UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) is set to launch its first Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite ‘Etihad-SAT’ tomorrow from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket at 10:39 AM (UAE time).
The satellite was developed as part of a strategic partnership with South Korea’s Satrec Initiative. MBRSC’s team led the technical specifications phase before moving on to preliminary design and technical validation, ensuring compliance with the highest global standards.
MBRSC engineers played a key role in finalizing the design and manufacturing in partnership with Satrec Initiative. This cutting-edge development aligns with the center’s dedication to enhancing national space capabilities through knowledge transfer and the localization of advanced technologies.
Equipped with state-of-the-art SAR technology, Etihad-SAT enables high-precision Earth observation across all weather and environmental conditions during both day and night.
The SAR satellite features three imaging modes: spot mode (high-resolution imaging for small areas), scan mode (wide-area coverage for large regions) and strip mode (extended observation for longer regions).
These advanced features make Etihad-SAT a powerful tool for diverse industries, from detecting oil spills and managing natural disasters to enhancing maritime navigation, supporting smart agriculture, and conducting environmental monitoring.
Furthermore, to gain valuable insights, the data provided by Etihad-SAT will be processed utilizing innovative AI technologies.
The launch date and timing may be subject to change based on weather and operational conditions. Following the launch, the satellite will be operated and managed by MBRSC’s Mission Control Centre, where specialized teams will oversee operations and analyze the data transmitted from space to Earth.
