The UAE’s first Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, named Etihad-SAT, was successfully launched today aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. This milestone event took place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking a significant step forward for the UAE’s space ambitions.

The launch, originally scheduled for 10:39 am, was slightly delayed and took place at 10:43 am. This achievement highlights the growing contributions of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to space exploration and technological innovation in the region.

Etihad-SAT was developed through a strategic partnership with South Korea’s Satrec Initiative, with MBRSC engineers leading the technical specifications, preliminary design, and validation to meet global standards. Following this, MBRSC played a crucial role in finalizing the satellite’s design and manufacturing in collaboration with Satrec Initiative.

Equipped with advanced SAR technology, Etihad-SAT enables high-precision Earth observation under all weather conditions, both day and night. The satellite features three imaging modes: spot mode for high-resolution imaging of small areas, scan mode for wide-area coverage, and strip mode for extended observation of longer regions.

These capabilities position Etihad-SAT as a valuable asset across various sectors, including oil spill detection, disaster management, maritime navigation, smart agriculture, and environmental monitoring. The data collected by the satellite will be processed using AI-powered technologies, enhancing its utility further.