EIAST engineers reveal specifications of DubaiSat-2

The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) has revealed the final design details and specifications of DubaiSat-2, its second satellite project.
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The UAE's second remote-sensing satellite is due to be launched into orbit by the end of 2012 on board a Dnepr rocket through the Moscow-based International Space Company Kosmotras (ISCK) from Yasny Cosmodrome in Russia.

The technical improvements include an increase in data download speed from 30 Mbits /second from DubaiSat-1 to 160 Mbits /second.
 
The data acquired by the satellite will also increase from 12,000 square metres per day to 17,000 square metres.
 
The satellite will weigh 300 kg, be two metres high and 1.5 metres wide and will orbit at 600 km above the earth's surface, compared with DubaiSat-1's 690 km.
 
The orbit has also been changed from ascending (South to North) to a descending orbit (North to South), which will allow both satellites to work well together and give better coverage over the UAE area.
 
"Our investment in the UAE team of engineers is the most important achievement of EIAST through our flagship satellite, DubaiSat-1, launched in 2009. This reflected the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to strengthen the involvement of UAE youth in frontier and advanced sciences,” said Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director General, EIAST (pictured below).
 
“These young engineers and specialists are now more confident and determined to succeed as they work towards the launch of DubaiSat-2 late next year, and this is the real achievement of our space programme."
 
"The DubaiSat-2 project is in line with the aspirations of our leadership to promote the knowledge base and technical skills of UAE nationals, enabling them to embrace the latest technologies, which will contribute to the overall social and economic growth of the UAE. The leadership also envisions the creation of a knowledge-based economy by developing our human resources," he added.
 
The UAE team, along with their South Korean Partners (Satrec Initiative), has designed the satellite to produce higher-quality images. It will have a panchromatic resolution of 1m and a multispectral resolution of 4m in four spectral bands (red, green, blue and near infrared). This should enhance the quality of the images for various applications including environmental projects, urban planning, infrastructure, telecommunications and electricity.