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UAE: Etihad-SAT set to launch on March 15; when, where to watch
Last month, the Dubai Crown Prince announced the completion of the country's newest space project
- PUBLISHED: Fri 14 Mar 2025, 12:07 PM
Etihad-SAT is set to launch at 10.43am on March 15 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Initially, 10.39am was announced as the launch time of the satellite.
The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, which will launch aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, has multiple imaging modes, and is set to enhance the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre's (MBRSC) Earth observation capabilities.
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UAE residents and global space enthusiasts can watch the launch from 10.15am through a live broadcast on MBRSC's official website.
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Last month, the Dubai Crown Prince announced the completion of the country's newest space project.
"Our ambitions in the space sector know no bounds, and we firmly believe in the capabilities of our youth to strengthen the UAE’s global leadership in space exploration and help shape a brighter future for humanity powered by knowledge and innovation," Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE.
How does the satellite work?
Etihad-SAT's technology enables performance under all weather conditions, with 24/7 imaging. Employing rapid data processing supported by artificial intelligence, the SAR satellite has one of the highest resolutions in the region.
Cloud cover, fog, dust storms? The satellite will continue to scan vast areas day and night, regardless of adverse weather conditions.
The satellite's electronic subsystem generates radar waves which help it scan Earth; the intensity of these waves can be controlled by the system in order to "ensure precision in both transmission and reception", according to MBRSC.
The satellite offers three imaging modes: spot mode (high-resolution imaging for small areas), scan mode (wide-area coverage for large regions) and strip mode (extended observation for longer regions).
It is equipped with a camera, which transmits these waves and then "captures their reflection" from Earth.
The data generated by the satellite will enable better understanding and management of disaster management, oil spills, vegetation studies, and maritime navigation, said Amer AlSayegh AlGhaferi, Assistant Director General of the Aerospace Engineering Sector, MBRSC.
