The United Arab Emirates has launched its first domestically developed commercial satellite AlTair-1, led by Hamdullah Mohib the former National Security Adviser of Afghanistan.
The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States Designed, assembled and tested in Abu Dhabi it was carried into orbit as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission.
According to Mohib, AlTair-1 is the first of a planned 10-satellite constellation developed by Orbitworks.
The satellite is equipped with five types of sensors for Earth observation Once completed the constellation is expected to monitor every part of the Earth approximately once every four hours and independently process data in real time.
The remaining nine satellites are scheduled to be launched next year with the full constellation expected to reach operational capacity in 2027.
According to Orbitworks the satellite network will provide data for natural disaster monitoring, environmental protection, food security maritime surveillance, infrastructure management and national security.
