The United Arab Emirates will launch today its first environmental nanosatellite which was developed by students of Khalifa University (KU) and the American University of Ras Al Khaimah(AURAK). As part of the UAE Space Agency’s efforts to drive experiential learning in universities, MeznSat will be carried to a low Earth orbit altitude of 575km from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia by a Soyuz-2 rocket at 13:20 CET, 15:20 UAE time.
The students successfully completed several environmental tests two months prior to the launch that includes the final fit checks, the thermal vacuum test, and the vibration test signaling the satellite’s readiness for launch. The satellite’s design and development involved 30 students across both universities and was completed over three years.
