UAE’s MBZ-SAT: Launch Date & its significance

All eyes are now turned towards the advanced satellite “MBZ-SAT” of UAE which is going to be launched on January 14, 2025 and the live coverage of this historic event will be streamed live from 9.30 pm and the launch will take place at 10.49pm (UAE Time). 

How will MBZ-SAT reach its orbit in space?

Watch the launch today: https://t.co/UpeGcR579S

The live coverage starts at 9:30 pm (UAE time), and the mission launches at 10:49 pm.#MBZSAT pic.twitter.com/AcNJAxsQOo

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) January 14, 2025

MBZ-SAT : Significance

• It is an earth-observation satellite which is designed to deliver environmental monitoring, infrastructure planning, disaster response for 24/7 along with an automated imaging system to capture the high resolution images.
• MBZ-SAT satellite has been named after His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who has ceaselessly contributed for the UAE’s space sector betterment.
• It weighs 750 Kg, dimension – 3m x 5m
• Data Transfer Speed – 4x more than current capability
• The given information states that ninety percent of mechanical structure has been made in collaboration of UAE based companies which includes Strata, EPI, Rockford Xellerix, Halcon, Falcon and EGA.
• The satellite was taken and tested successfully, after the completion of the satellite to test at KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute).

Launch Date : January 14, 2025

Launch Site : Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA

MBZ-SAT will be launched into Low Earth Sun-synchronous orbit after 15 to 20 minutes, and the orbit is 500-550 km away from the earth. The first signal from the satellite is expected to arrive after 1 hour and twenty minutes after the launch. Following that it would capture the first image which is over the UAE.