EgyptSat 1 or MisrSat-1 was Egypt's first Earth remote sensingsatellite. This satellite was jointly built by Egypt's National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences together with the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau in Ukraine and was launched on board a Dnepr rocket on 17 April 2007 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The effort was spearheaded by Dr. Aly Sadek, chairman of the Egyptian Council for Space Science and Technology Research. It in many ways was considered a huge step for the Egyptians since it marked the first time they opted for technology transfer during the manufacturing the satellite rather than simply purchasing one. On 23 October 2010, the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences announced that control and communication with the satellite had been lost since July 2010.
History
In 2001, Egypt posted an international tender for the development of the first Egyptian satellite for the observation and remote sensing and bidders from Ukraine, UK, Russia, Korea and Italy competed for the deal. on June 26, 2001 KB Yuzhnoe design bureau from Ukraine announced winner and on October 24, a contract had been signed in Egypt. A consortium consisted of KB Yuzhnoe design bureau and sub-contrators Ukrainian companies:
Yuzhnoye - prime contractor responsible for the platform and the launch
Khartron-Konsat and Khartron-Yukom - Research and Scientific Production Enterprises
KONEX - State Research and Production Enterprise
CONECS - responsible for the development of the two optical payloads, the onboard payload command and data handling subsystem, as well as for the development of the data processing in the ground segment
The Egyptian space program in fact started in the 1950s but it was not until the establishment of the Egyptian Space Council in 16/5/1998 and the approval of a year later in 26/5/1999 of the Egyptian Space Program within the National Authority of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences.
Objectives
Enabling Egypt to join the Space Technology Age through designing and manufacturing of small research and remote sensing satellites, acquiring technological knowledge and capabilities, and building required infrastructure to achieve self-capability to design & manufactures small satellites
Transfer of advanced space technologies in communication, computers, programs, optics, sensors, new materials, command and control and energy to the Egyptian Scientific community.
Drive innovation in earth observations and space sciences
Utilizing of space technologies & applications in development plans.
Acquiring national capabilities in Space Technology disciplines.
Establishment of scientific & industrial base in advanced technology fields.
Building human resource capabilities for space sciences fields.
Coordinating and enhancing the cooperation between the research & industrial centers and space program through a national project
To establish a scientific and technological base for space and high technology industries in Egypt and the development of the relevant human capacity and improve local stakeholders in remote sensing applications.
To support decision makers in sustainable development by providing space images.
Achievements and future plans
EgyptSat 1 Launched successfully on April 17, 2007.
EgyptSat 2 with spatial resolution of was planned to be launched in October 1, 2013 but the launch was put on hold in 2011 following all contact being lost with EgyptSat 1. EgyptSat 2 launched into orbit 16 April 2014; last contact with the satellite was April 14, 2015.
DesertSat with spatial resolution of which specialized in identifying and monitoring desert resources is planned to be launched in 2017.
The objective of the three satellites is to provide comprehensive images of Egypt.
Equipment
Egyptsat 1 is considered a miniaturized satellite weighing 100 kg and is carrying two devices:
