Page 60 - SAMENA Trends - February 2022

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SATELLITE NEWS

Bahrain’s First-Ever Satellite Launched into Orbit

A collaborative satellite launch by the UAE
and Bahrain has “successfully launched
into orbit” from the International Space
Station, according to an Emirati state
media agency WAM report. The Light-1
CubeSat was launched in cooperation with
the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
(JAXA) from the Tsukuba Space Centre
(TKSC) after the UAE and Japan signed
a cooperation agreement in 2016. The
satellite will monitor and study Terrestrial
Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) from
thunderstorms and lightning, marking the
region’s “first scientific mission,” according
to WAM. High-energy gamma-ray
emissions reportedly impact atmosphere,
air traffic and human health. Flight crew are
affected more commonly since these rays
are known penetrate aircraft structures, be shared globally to “support scientific of Khalifa University according to WAM.
reported WAM. It was developed jointly by analysis and encourage cooperation” Salem Butti al-Qubaisi, Director-General
the UAE Space Agency, Bahrain’s National among researchers. “As this UAE-Bahraini of UAE Space Agency, said in a statement
Space Science Agency, Khalifa University nanosatellite reached its orbital position, to WAM: “Coming close on our recent
of Science and Technology, and New York we believe this collaboration initiative success with the Emirates Mars Mission,
University (NYU) Abu Dhabi. Data gathered will stand out as the best example of and our first space astronaut Hazza al-
from the Light-1 CubeSat aims to leverage what can be achieved by the scientists Mansouri’s journey to the International
space science to support sustainable in the Arab world,” said Dr. Arif Sultan Space Station, this is an endorsement of
economic growth reported WAM. This will al-Hammadi, Executive Vice-President our achievements in the cosmos.”

OneWeb Launches 34 Satellites, Bringing Constellation to 428

OneWeb confirmed the successful from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, OneWeb's first in 2022 and 13th overall,
deployment of 34 satellites by Arianespace French Guiana. The launch marks bringing its total in-orbit constellation to
428 satellites. It represents 66 percent of
OneWeb’s planned 648 LEO satellite fleet
that will deliver high-speed, low-latency
global connectivity. OneWeb notes that it
has signed new distribution partnership
agreements with several companies in the
last month – including Hughes Network
Systems, Marlink, and Field Solutions
Holding. Neil Masterson, OneWeb CEO,
commented: “Our first launch of the
year marks our significant progress in
completing a truly global LEO network
later in 2022. We continue to see growing
demand for OneWeb’s industry-leading
services as we look forward to delivering
on our ambition to build robust, secure,
and global access to broadband services.”
60 FEBRUARY 2022