The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has announced that the MBZ-SAT, the most advanced satellite in the region, is scheduled for launch tonight, January 14. The launch window will open at 10:49 pm UAE time, from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, US, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The timing is subject to weather and operational conditions, with a backup opportunity on Wednesday, January 15, at the same time.
Earlier, the MBRSC confirmed that the MBZ-SAT team had successfully completed final tests at SpaceX facilities in the US, with the satellite now integrated onto the Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite, named after HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, was announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in 2020. The launch was officially approved by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of MBRSC, earlier in 2024.
MBZ-SAT, developed entirely by Emirati engineers at MBRSC, marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s space exploration efforts. The satellite features advanced Earth observation capabilities with a mass of 750 kg and dimensions of 3m x 5m. It offers twice the imaging accuracy of its predecessors, ten times the imagery, and rapid data delivery within two hours. MBZ-SAT is equipped with advanced electric propulsion, precise navigation, and a high-resolution camera, enabling accurate imaging for applications like environmental monitoring, infrastructure management, and disaster relief.
The development of MBZ-SAT, in collaboration with UAE-based companies, has furthered the growth of the nation’s aerospace sector and strengthened its global position in space technology. Once operational in low Earth orbit, the satellite will be managed from MBRSC’s Mission Control Centre, with teams overseeing its operations and analyzing the data transmitted back to Earth.
Live coverage of the mission will begin at 9:30 pm UAE time, available on the MBRSC website at https://live.mbrsc.ae.
