First image from the UAE’s Etihad-SAT in orbit. MBRSC

The UAE’s Etihad-SAT, a state-of-the-art Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, successfully launched into orbit on Saturday (March 15), according to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). The satellite launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a Falcon 9 rocket at 10:43am (UAE time). The team at the ground station in Dubai confirmed receiving the first signal from the satellite at 12:04pm (UAE time). Etihad-SAT represents a significant milestone in MBRSC’s Satellite Development Programme, as the first of its kind satellite equipped with SAR imaging technology. This high-tech satellite, developed by the MBRSC, will enhance Earth observation and environmental monitoring using 24/7 imaging capabilities, even in adverse weather conditions such as cloud cover, fog, and dust storms. Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum recently hailed the project as a step forward for the UAE’s space ambitions. "Our ambitions in the space sector know no bounds, and we firmly believe in the capabilities of our youth to strengthen the UAE’s global leadership in space exploration," he said.

How does Etihad-SAT work?

The satellite uses radar waves to scan Earth, unaffected by weather conditions and features three imaging modes for detailed, wide, and extended observation. It can aid in disaster management, oil spill tracking, vegetation studies, and maritime navigation. ICA/Expat Media Watch UAE’s next space milestone:
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