UAE Successfully Launches "Fay 1" Satellite as Part of Global Space Initiative
November 29, 2025149 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre has announced the successful launch of the "Fay 1" satellite, which serves as the first standard platform developed for hosting satellite payloads. This initiative is in partnership with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs as part of the Space for All program.
The satellite was launched aboard a "Falcon 9" rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Friday evening at 10:44 UAE time. This launch represents a crucial step toward increasing the involvement of countries and educational institutions in the fields of space science and technology.
A Platform for Global Collaboration
The centre emphasized that "Fay 1" reflects the UAE's commitment to providing equitable access to space, allowing various countries and institutions to test their technologies in low Earth orbit. The satellite carries innovative scientific and technical payloads from several international partners, including:
- The Bahrain Space Agency, which is testing data encryption.
- Antarikshia Pratisthan from Nepal, working on a long-range LoRa communication system.
- The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, featuring a high-definition video camera.
- The Sharjah Academy of Astronomy and Space Sciences, which is deploying the "Luna" payload to measure temperature and determine directional data.
Specifications and Objectives of the Satellite
"Fay 1" is a standard CubeSat 12U satellite, weighing around 20 kilograms, with an anticipated operational lifespan of approximately one year. Its primary objectives include enabling international partners to test and evaluate new technologies in low Earth orbit and gathering scientific and technical data to support future space research.
The centre confirmed that the development of "Fay 1" was completed entirely at its facilities in Dubai, with technical assistance provided for payload integration and readiness verification to ensure operational success. Once the satellite reaches its orbit at about 500 kilometers, it will begin transmitting data to the centre's control station, where the information will be analyzed and shared with participating entities to further international space research.
The satellite was launched aboard a "Falcon 9" rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Friday evening at 10:44 UAE time. This launch represents a crucial step toward increasing the involvement of countries and educational institutions in the fields of space science and technology.
A Platform for Global Collaboration
The centre emphasized that "Fay 1" reflects the UAE's commitment to providing equitable access to space, allowing various countries and institutions to test their technologies in low Earth orbit. The satellite carries innovative scientific and technical payloads from several international partners, including:
- The Bahrain Space Agency, which is testing data encryption.
- Antarikshia Pratisthan from Nepal, working on a long-range LoRa communication system.
- The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, featuring a high-definition video camera.
- The Sharjah Academy of Astronomy and Space Sciences, which is deploying the "Luna" payload to measure temperature and determine directional data.
Specifications and Objectives of the Satellite
"Fay 1" is a standard CubeSat 12U satellite, weighing around 20 kilograms, with an anticipated operational lifespan of approximately one year. Its primary objectives include enabling international partners to test and evaluate new technologies in low Earth orbit and gathering scientific and technical data to support future space research.
The centre confirmed that the development of "Fay 1" was completed entirely at its facilities in Dubai, with technical assistance provided for payload integration and readiness verification to ensure operational success. Once the satellite reaches its orbit at about 500 kilometers, it will begin transmitting data to the centre's control station, where the information will be analyzed and shared with participating entities to further international space research.
