Manama, Dec. 21 (BNA) The Kingdom of Bahrain has successfully launched its first satellite, “Light-1”, which will monitor and study terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGRs) from thunderstorms and cumulus clouds, CEO of the National National Company. Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Asiri announced in Space Sciences (NSSA).
Light-1 is named after His Majesty’s book “First Light”, and is the product of ongoing cooperation between Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in space science, technology and engineering.
On this occasion, Dr. Al-Asiri extended his deepest congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, National Security Adviser, Commander and Secretary of the Royal Guard. – Dean of the Supreme Defense Council, His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, for this achievement. He also congratulated all Bahraini citizens, stressing that exploitation is an incentive for Bahraini youth to increase their national giving and achievements.
The NSSA chief noted that Light-1 took off today, at 13:00 Bahrain time, on a SpaceX CRS-24 flight aboard a Falcon 9 rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). It will be placed on orbit at an altitude of 400 km and an inclination angle of 51.6 degrees, adding that it will be re-launched into Earth orbit during the first quarter of 2022 from the Japanese Experimental Unit (KIBO) on the International Space Station.
Light-1 will transmit data with three ground stations, the ground station at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, Vilnius in Lithuania, and Aalborg in Denmark.
He stressed that “Al Light 1” is a first step towards achieving a greater national ambition by placing the Kingdom of Bahrain among the leading countries in the space sector.
He added that the satellite is the fruit of a fruitful cooperation between the National Space Science Authority in Bahrain, the Emirates Space Agency, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research and New York University Abu Dhabi, noting that the satellite was provided by Nano Avionics, a Lithuania-based space technology company. It has extensive experience designing and building more than 90 nano-satellites for more than 40 countries.
He pointed out that the launch of the “Light-1” satellite confirms the support that Bahraini youth enjoy from the Kingdom’s leadership to gain science and knowledge, adding that Bahrainis contributed 75% of the joint satellite.
Al-Asiri indicated that this project reflects the tireless efforts of Bahraini competencies to raise the national flag in many fields, noting that the Bahraini space team consists of a group of young national cadres specialized in advanced technology, such as electrical and mechanical engineering, communications and electronics. and programming.
Light-1 is a nano-satellite that will monitor and study terrestrial gamma-ray flashes by developing and building two payload detectors, using a combination of two different image sensor technologies and sparkling crystals, reflecting Bahrain’s contributions to international efforts to measure and study these rays. Its impact on the safety of aircraft structures and the safety of passengers.
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