UAE's student-built DhabiSat reaches orbit

A satellite designed and built by students in the UAE has "gently eased into its orbit" after leaving the International Space Station (ISS).

Making the announcement, the Khalifa University of Science and Technology and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) said DhabiSat was deployed into orbit from Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus resupply spacecraft.

It's the second CubeSat designed and built by Khalifa University students.

The mission will enable students to design, implement and test software, and will record data to support future CubeSat missions.

.@KhalifaUni and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company have successfully launched the third CubeSat satellite designed by students at KU into orbit, marking a major milestone for the university and the UAE. pic.twitter.com/dWKLQDroLh

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) July 13, 2021

The launch supports the UAE’s mission to develop homegrown talent to lead the National Space Programme.

KU’s first CubeSat, MySat-1, was launched in February 2019, followed by MeznSat in 2020.