Two UAE Satellites Set for Launch Aboard SpaceX Rocket in January

Two UAE satellites - MBZ-SAT and HCT-SAT 1 - will soon be launched into space on Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket this January, as announced by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). The launch is set to take place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

MBZ-SAT, the most advanced Earth observation satellite in the region, is developed by Emirati engineers, and is designed to enhance data collection capabilities while supporting environmental and urban planning initiatives. Meanwhile, HCT-SAT 1, a CubeSat developed with student participation, focuses on training and capability building.

Originally scheduled for October 2024, the launch was delayed by two months due to technical adjustments, aligning both missions with the Transporter-12 Rideshare mission on SpaceX Falcon 9.