A series of Egyptian satellites dubbed “Next” will be launched starting from December, executive director of the Egyptian Space Agency said Saturday. According to Al-Quosi, “Cairo, in cooperation with German and Chinese partners, will launch new satellites, the first of which is a satellite for remote sensing and scientific research, weighing 65 kilograms. It will be launched in December this year.”
In parallel with Next, a group of nanosatellites will be launched in March 2022 to monitor climate changes, especially the levels of carbon dioxide and gases in the atmosphere, Quosi said.
In September 2022, EgyptSat 2, weighing 330 kilograms, will be launched to be used in sensor application with a photographic accuracy of two meters. EgyptSat 2 has been designed in cooperation with China per an agreement that includes a grant worth $45 million, he added.
He also said that Egypt had an ambitious plan to build space systems and infrastructure, as well as strengthen international space relations, explore space and establish Egyptian space law, according to the Al-Youm Al-Sabea newspaper. Al-Qousi said that his country’s ambitions in space science were greater than the five satellites that it currently had in orbit.
A satellite assembly and testing centre will be inaugurated in September 2022 in the International Space City to be the first centre of its kind in the Arab world. It is planned to also produce pure Egyptian satellites for purposes related to development in Egypt and Africa, as well as scientific research.
Quosi also said now that Egypt will host the African Space Agency after the African Union’s approval. There is a plan in cooperation with Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Sudan, and Nigeria to launch a joint satellite dubbed the African development Satellite. The headquarters of the African Space Agency is now being established in the International Space City at a budget of USD 10million.
The Egyptian Space Agency is also working on the development of the MisrSat-2 satellite. The satellite will be 100% manufactured in Egypt, meaning that all the components of the satellite will be totally local and will demonstrate Egypt’s capacity for space exploration. The Chinese government provided some form of grant as well as assisting with the design of the satellite. The MisrSat-2 is scheduled for completion in August 2022.
Source: https://africanews.space/egypt-to-launch-satellite-by-the-end-of-2021/