Bahrain-UAE Nanosatellite Light-1 arrives at ISS

Manama, December 21 / BNA / The Bahraini-Emirati joint satellite Light-1, whose name was inspired by the book of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, First Light, has arrived at the International Space Station (ISS).

Light-1 lists key points in Bahrain’s history and the name symbolizes the country’s growth and scientific progress.

It was carried aboard a Falcon 9 rocket that launched the SpaceX CRS-24 commercial resupply mission from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US, at 1:06cpm Bahrain time.

Its successful arrival at the International Space Station is the culmination of a pioneering partnership between the UAE and Bahrain and an achievement of cooperation between the UAE Space Agency, the National Space Science Agency (NSSA), Khalifa University of Science and Research and New York University Abu Dhabi. .

It reflects the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries, and the level of strategic partnership in all fields, including space, science and technology.

The Light-1 will subsequently be re-launched into Earth orbit during the first quarter of 2022 in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. It will then begin the first scientific mission in the region to observe and study terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) from thunderstorms and cumulus clouds. The data will be made available to the global scientific community.

Designed and assembled with a unique design, and making use of the latest detectors, the Light-1 gamma ray detection system is a competitor to larger satellites and could make an effective contribution to understanding TGFs. The Light-1 satellite, thanks to its innovative technology, may be a pathfinder for future and larger missions targeting gamma rays.

Light-1 uses “scintillating” crystals – a scintillation is a substance that emits light when a subatomic particle crosses it, and some crystals are very good scintillation indicators. The light emitted by the crystals is collected by sensors called photomultipliers and then processed by a dedicated electronic system. Although the individual components can be sourced from specialized companies, the combined detection system is unique to the Light-1.

The impact of high-energy gamma ray emissions on the atmosphere, air traffic and human health, especially flight crews, will be studied. These rays can penetrate airframes, so the 1 light data will improve understanding regarding radiation exposure.

The team that designed and built the Light-1 included nine Bahrainis and ten Emiratis.