A team from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center conducted final technical tests on Khalifa Sat, which reached the launch base at Tanigashima Space Center in Japan, in preparation for its launch on October 29. The satellite is kept within a specially designed space until the launch date. This space is called the VAB, where the satellite must be in the area before the launch date, in a period of between five days and 40 days.
Mohammed Khalifa bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, said: "The technical testing on Khalifa Sat, the first fully-built satellite in the UAE, is an important stage in completing the preparations for the launch of the Tanigashima Space Center in Japan. It is the largest missile launch complex in Japan and one of the world's most unique sites that allows its satellites to launch satellites and other spacecraft into orbit. Its multiple facilities also offer a series of operations, such as assembly of launch vehicles, maintenance, Satellites, loading on launch vehicles, launch follow-up, and launch vehicles after launch. "
Al Shaibani stressed the Center's commitment to implementing the leadership's directives and aspirations to explore and invest in space, and to redouble efforts to develop it based on enhancing innovation and building national cadres. And data aimed at improving the quality of life.
"The final tests on Khalifa Sat, which reached the launch base at the Tanigashima Space Center on time, confirm the success of the plan set by the center to launch it," said Amer Sayegh, director of KhalifaSat's project at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center. On October 29, reflecting the high professionalism of the 70 engineers and engineers from the country. "
The center had earlier announced that October 29, 2018 would be the official launch date of Khalifa Sat, in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Once Khalifa Sat enters its low Earth orbit (about 613 km), the satellite will begin its work to take satellite imagery and send it to the ground control station inside the center to meet the needs of government and commercial institutions around the world.
«Khalifa SAT» test
Khalifa Sat underwent various tests, including a functional test to verify that all sub-systems were working well, a safety test for the batteries, and a safety test for the H-IIA. It was installed on the vehicle in preparation for launch; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has provided the UAE team with the necessary facilities for testing.
The Khalifa Sat is two meters long and weighs just 330 kilograms, making it a world leader in its wavy category. It includes a sophisticated positioning system that provides a large number of 3D images at a time with high precision and superfast response speed. The images will be used in efforts to monitor environmental changes, global warming impacts, effectively manage urban planning, as well as assist relief efforts during natural disasters, and will operate in its orbit for five years.