Page 66 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Egypt Is Set to Launch a Program for the Manufacturing of Small Satellites

in Universities

Egypt is Set to launch a program for the manufacturing of small laboratory for educational satellites, electronic tests and space
satellites in universities across the country in a collaborative photographs processing.” Egypt’s Higher Education and Scientific
effort led the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA), the Academy for Research Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghafar yesterday confirmed
Scientific Research and Technology (ASR) and the Supreme plans for the launch of the program while chairing the maiden
Council of Universities. The program is one of the pillars meeting of the Egyptian Space Agency board alongside Mohamed
contained in the National Strategy for Science, Technology and El-Qosi, EgSA Chief Executive Officer. Abdel-Ghafar further
Innovation 2030 which was released in December by Egypt’s disclosed that the ministry will welcome a delegation from the
Higher Education and Scientific Research aimed at improving the French Space Agency to discuss space cooperation between both
country’s competitiveness in science research and development countries. Both parties will be looking to sign a memorandum
of indigenous technologies. The strategy document, obtained by of understanding on space cooperation. The program for the
Space in Africa, outlined the Ministry’s intention to “establish a manufacturing of small satellites in universities across Egypt is
a reflection of the country’s recent drive to revitalize its space
sector and its ambition to become a space power in the Middle
East and Africa. Last year, Egypt launched four satellites into
space, of which two were developed locally by Egyptian engineers
at the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences
(now the Egyptian Space Agency). With a record nine satellites
launched into space from 1998 to 2019 by Egypt’s Nilesat and the
Egyptian government, Egypt currently tops the chart for the highest
number of satellites launched by an African nation. The North
African country is also investing in other space infrastructure
including a satellite assembly, integration and testing (AIT)
center, ground station facilities and the China-funded MisrSat
II Earth observation satellite in collaboration with the Chinese
government. Located in the iconic Egyptian Space City near the
New Administrative Capital in Cairo, the space facilities, when
completed, will boost Egypt’s competitiveness in space science
research and technology development.

Hispasat Buys GEO Satellite from Thales Alenia Space

Hispasat purchased a satellite from flexibility to change the location, power 4,500 kilograms, 20 kilowatts of onboard
Thales Alenia Space Jan. 10, marking the and even shape of their communications power, all-electric propulsion, and a design
operator’s first satellite order since being beams. Hispasat is no exception. Thales life of 15 years. Commercial customers have
acquired by Spanish power company Alenia Space said Amazonas Nexus will signed long-term leases for close to 30%
Red Eléctrica last year. Thales Alenia feature a new digital transparent processor of the satellite’s capacity prior to launch,
Space will build a new satellite called that will allow Hispasat to reassign the Hispasat said, providing anchor customers
Amazonas Nexus, designed with Ku-band satellite’s capacity as markets change. to validate the operator’s business plan for
coverage over both American continents, Hispasat Chief Executive Miguel Ángel the satellite. Though based in Spain, more
plus Greenland and North Atlantic Panduro said Amazonas Nexus will be “the than 65% of Hispasat’s revenue comes
transportation routes. Hispasat and Thales most dynamic and advanced satellite in from the Americas, mainly Latin America.
Alenia Space signed the manufacturing our fleet” after it launches in the second Hispasat, citing research firm Euroconsult,
contract in Madrid. Amazonas Nexus half of 2022. A launch provider has not said demand for geostationary data
will replace Hispasat’s Amazonas-2, been announced. Amazonas Nexus will capacity is expected to grow fivefold in
an 11-year-old satellite located at have Ka-band feeder links for telemetry “the American continent” over the next
61-degrees west that provides C- and Ku- and control, a feature Hispasat said will 10 years. Amazonas Nexus is designed
band coverage of Pan-America. Satellite optimize communications with gateway to capitalize on that projected growth,
operators have increasingly pushed ground stations and free up more onboard particularly for broadband to aircraft, ships
manufacturers to not build satellites capacity for commercial applications. and government end users.
with frozen coverage patterns, but with Amazonas Nexus has a projected mass of

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