DEWA’s SAT-2 6U nanosatellite to launch in April

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has wrapped up preparations to launch its second nanosatellite to enable remote sensing applications in April, reported the state news agency, WAM.

Part of DEWA’s Space-D programme, the SAT-2 6U nanosatellite will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The nanosatellite was designed and developed at DEWA’s Research and Development Centre, in collaboration with NanoAvionics in Lithuania, WAM reported.

DEWA Sat-2 to be used for Earth observation missions

The new satellite features a high-resolution camera (4.7 meters) that will be used for Earth observation missions.

The high-resolution camera provides continuous line-scan imaging in seven spectral bands from an approximately 500-kilometre orbit.

SAT-2 is also equipped with infrared equipment to measure greenhouse gases.

According to WAM, the combined use of DEWA SAT-2 images and internet of things (IoT) measurements from DEWA SAT-1 will enable DEWA to improve the operational performance of power generation and water desalination plants by providing accurate estimates of seawater temperature, seawater salinity, detection of red-tide, as well as fog monitoring and forecasting.

Sat-2 predecessor was launched last year

DEWA launched DEWA-SAT1 in January last year. It uses LoRa IoT communication technology, a new wireless protocol designed for long-range and low-power communications, to expand the coverage of the existing terrestrial communications network.

DEWA has completed preparations to launch its second nanosatellite for remote sensing applications in April 2023. The 6U nanosatellite is part of DEWA’s Space-D programme. pic.twitter.com/bALSFXncWb

— DEWA | Official Page (@DEWAOfficial) April 8, 2023

The utility company is the first in the world to launch nanosatellites to improve its planning, operation, and maintenance activities, WAM said.

Using satellite network communication, IoT and artificial intelligence contributes to improving the efficiency of photovoltaic solar panels at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, using the independent power producer (IPP) model.

In other news, the Sharjah Sat 1 satellite successfully launched into space on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral, Florida earlier in January.

The expected lifetime of the satellite is three years, subject to increase, according to the effect of solar radiation on the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere due to its proximity to the low Earth orbit (550 km), around which Sharjah Sat 1 revolves.

Read: Sharjah Sat 1 successfully launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida

The expected lifetime of the satellite is three years, subject to increase, according to the effect of solar radiation on the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere due to its proximity to the low Earth orbit (550 km), around which Sharjah Sat 1 revolves.

During its mission, it will carry out various scientific tasks.

Meanwhile, the iSpace lander carrying the Rashid Rover performed its first lunar orbit insertion manoeuvre in accordance with the mission operation plan on March 21.

The insertion into lunar orbit is an important step toward the upcoming milestones of the Rashid Rover, beginning with the remaining five subsystem checks.

The completion of all lunar orbital manoeuvres prior to the beginning of the landing sequence is scheduled to be announced around late April 2023.