ISTANBUL 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain jointly launched two satellites on Saturday aimed at Earth monitoring and climate change tracking, marking a significant step in their space exploration efforts.

Etihad-SAT: UAE’s advanced radar satellite

The UAE’s Etihad-SAT, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 10:39 a.m. UAE time (0639 GMT) aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

The satellite features cutting-edge radar technology, capable of capturing high-precision images regardless of weather conditions. This enables it to monitor environmental changes, detect oil leaks, track maritime traffic, and support smart agriculture.

The launch marks a decade since the UAE's formal entry into the space sector, following the establishment of the UAE Space Agency in 2014 and its Hope Probe mission to Mars.

Al-Munther: Bahrain’s first satellite

Bahrain launched Al-Munther, its first-ever satellite, at 9:39 a.m. Bahrain time (0639 GMT) via the same Falcon 9 rocket under the Transporter-13 mission.

Al-Munther is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, enabling it to analyze space images onboard without transmitting data to ground stations, thus reducing processing times.

The satellite will assist in environmental monitoring, desertification studies, urban planning, food security, and population density management. Operating at 550 kilometers (342 miles) above Earth, it has an expected mission duration of five years.

Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency CEO Mohamed Ibrahim Al Aseeri emphasized that the launch marks a major milestone for Bahrain's ambitions in the global space sector.