Engineers at the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) have generated the first mosaic image of the entire UAE putting together images relayed from the outer space by DubaiSat-1, the UAE-owned and operated earth observation satellite.

The EIAST team undertook the task to mark the 40th National Day celebrations of the UAE. The mosaic image also represents a tribute to the UAE’s growth and the achievements the country has made in advanced space sciences and satellite technology.

DubaiSat-1 was a joint project between the UAE and South Korea, developed with a sharp focus on knowledge transfer to the UAE team and its participation in building the satellite. EIAST launched DubaiSat-1 in July 2009, and since then the satellite has been transmitting images that are of significant value in several areas.

The relatively high spatial resolution of DubaiSat-1 images complement existing Geographic Information System (GIS) databases and enables more efficient monitoring and management of various environmental changes and natural hazards, in addition to identifying the quality of water in the Gulf region. 

EIAST is now developing DubaiSat-2 jointly with Satrec Initiative of South Korea, with 16 UAE engineers working on the design, development, testing and manufacturing of the satellite in South Korea. The participation of the UAE engineers in Dubai Sat-2 has increased by 100 per cent compared to DubaiSat-1 and the new project is expected to take EIAST to the next level in satellite development.

DubaiSat-2 will be launched on board a Dnepr Rocket through the Moscow-based International Space Company Kosmotras (ISCK) from Yasny Cosmodrome in Russia by the fourth quarter of 2012, as part of a clustered launch, in which DubaiSat-2 will be the primary satellite on board.