The following overview of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre was presented

by Adnan Alrais to the SpaceOps Committee Meeting hosted by MBRSP in Dubai on

November 14-16 , 2016

Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre

DubaiSat‐1 & DubaiSat‐2 Missions

DubaiSat‐1 DubaiSat‐2

Altitude (km) 680 600

Mass ~ 200 kg < 300 Kg

Spatial Resolution  PAN 2.5m, MS 5m PAN 1M, MS 4m

Data Quantization 8‐bits 10‐bits

Mass Storage 64 Gbits 256 Gbits

Imaging Modes Single Strip Single StripFast Multi‐StripSingle Pass Stereo

Data Download Speed 30Mbps 160Mbps

Swath Width (km) 20 12

Launch date 29th July 2009 21st Nov 2013

Main Objectives:• Tech and Know‐How Transfer for satellite Development• Continuous Manpower Development• Meeting the continuous need of spatial information and

EO data of the UAE

KhalifaSat Mission

• KhalifaSat is MBRSC’s 3rd Earth Observation Satellite.

• 100% developed by Emirati engineers.

• The four year programme to develop KhalifaSat began in 2013.

• Completed CDR meeting in Dec 2015.

• Signed launch agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd (MHI); to launch KhalifaSat together with GOSAT‐2 onboard H‐IIA launch vehicle in Q1 2018.

• Current Status: Manufacturing Flight Model, should be completed by Q3 2017.

Nanosatellite Outreach Program

• Engage university students to design, develop, test, launch and operate Nano‐satellites.

• Encourage students to apply the knowledge gained from university courses.

• Prepare future Emirati workforce to support UAE’s ambitious space exploration missions.

• Support the sustainable development of science and technology in the UAE

NanoSatellite Outreach Program 

• Nayif‐1 is considered UAE's first CubeSat Mission that willbe launched on Falcon 9 late 2016.

• It will be built in partnership with the American Universityof Sharjah (AUS) and the implementationpartner "Innovative Solutions In Space”

• A Nanosatellite that offers hands‐on experience toengineering students in the design, integration, testing,and operation of a communications satellite.

Mission Amateur Radio

Satellite Class CubeSat 1U 

Dimensions 10x10x11.35 cm3

Mass 1.32 kg

Power Max ~2.35W

Communication Footprint ~5000 km

Orbit Elliptical 400 to 750 km

Launch End of 2016

Nayif‐1 CubeSat Mission

Emirates Mars Mission

Emirates Mars Mission: HOPE Probe• The UAE Space Agency and MBRSC signed an agreement in October 20th, 2014; to build the first Arabic‐Islamic Mars space probe. 

• Strategic Objective: “to build Emirati technical and intellectual capabilities in the fields of aerospace and space exploration, to enter the space industry, and to make use of space technology in a way that enhances the country’s development plans”

• Scientific Objective: “EMM will, for the first time, explore the dynamics in the atmosphere of Mars on a global scale. It will provide holistic, global and diurnal understanding of the atmospheric dynamics of Mars

• Current Status: Completed the Primary Design Review and currently preparing for the Critical Design Review in 2017.

Programme Partners:

Thank you!