A scientific research body of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Sunday that it will launch the country's first satellite DubaiSat-1 in 2008.
The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology ( EIAST), established by the Dubai government, unveiled the timetable of the execution of DubaiSat-1 project at a press conference held in Dubai on Sunday, a press release by the institution said.
According to the EIAST, DubaiSat-1 aims to position the UAE among the advanced nations in the world in science and technology development through the application of global best practices and cooperation with the world's leading experts in the field.
"DubaiSat-1 will support the infrastructural development by providing information that is central for the decision making process affecting the urban and rural planning as well as transport, utilities, and mapping, in addition to environmental applications such as monitoring pollution and detecting oil spills, " EIAST's Director General Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori was quoted as saying.
"DubaiSat-1 will also help manage natural disasters and promote research and development, space science and other scientific disciplines," he added.
Under the project, a team of UAE engineers had been selected to be trained in the ROK-based company Satrec Initiative, where they take part in the design and production of the satellite.
The EIAST intends to complete the design and development of the prototypes for DubaiSat-1's equipment and tools and the setting up of the earth station by the end of 2007.
In 2008, the institution will carry out the final testing of DubaiSat-1 with all its equipment and specifications in actual space conditions and its performance as an integrated system. The satellite will be in the space later in that year.
According to a memorandum of understanding signed last week between the EIAST and Russian Federal Space Agency, DubaiSat-1 will be launched under the supervision and with the authorization of the agency through the Moscow-based International Space Company.
Source: Xinhua
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