Middle East

The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC), the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and NGC Aerospace, have signed a collaboration agreement and initiated the joint development of the flight software for a HyperSpectral Earth-observation satellite. This long-term collaboration, announced on 13 February 2020, will provide …

Virgin Galactic successfully completed another vital step on its path to commercial service, relocating SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, to its commercial headquarters at Spaceport America’s Gateway to Space building. VSS Unity, attached to the carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, made the journey from Mojave, California, where the company’s manufacturing facilities are based. The vehicle …

By His Excellency Dr. Eng. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi  Along the sidelines of local and international events, my colleagues and I at the UAE Space Agency meet with a myriad of official delegations and representatives to discuss opportunities for cooperation and the state of the global space sector. Our discussions …

The latest attempt by Iran to indigenously launch one of its domestically-built satellites has failed, the latest in a string of unsuccessful satellite launches due to engineering problems, poor management, sabotage, or a combination of all of these. The Zafar-1 Earth observation satellite, built by the Amir Kabir Technical University …

The UAE Space Agency launched a “Satellite Challenge” event as part of “UAE Hackathon 2020 – Data for Happiness and Wellbeing.” During UAE Innovation Month. The challenge introduces participants to the many stages involved in manufacturing and launching satellites—from the initial design through to launch. The challenge also encourages participants …

The space agencies of the United Arab Emirates and Luxembourg, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), convened the UAE/Luxembourg Space Investment Forum on 29 January 2020 in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE. The forum brought together senior government and space officials from both countries, …

Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES) President Jean-Yves Le Gall was in Israel on 28 January 2020 to speak at the 15th Ilan Ramon International Conference, focused this year on the theme of the next decade in space. On this occasion, he met Avi Blasberger, Director General of the Israel Space …

By Raphael Roettgen 2020 promises to be a big year in space, but not only for the well-known events you keep on hearing about, such as the expected crewed launches from U.S. soil on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule and Boeing’s Starliner. In the background, thousands of new space entrepreneurs are …

Virgin Orbit, the California-based small satellite launch company, has signed an agreement with ImageSat International (ISI), a global leader in space-based intelligence solutions, to develop an end-to-end responsive space service offering focused on national security customers. The joint turnkey service, announced at the 15th Ilan Ramon International Space Conference during …

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. and Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. jointly announced on 29 January 2020 that Comtech has agreed to acquire Gilat in a cash and stock transaction for $10.25 per Gilat ordinary share of which 70% will be paid in cash and 30% in Comtech common stock, resulting in an …