Rendition of the KhalifaSat satellite. Photo: MBRSC

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) successfully delivered the KhalifaSat satellite into orbit today, via the H-IIA launch vehicle F40. KhalifaSat was manufactured by the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC). The launch vehicle trajectory was executed as planned, and at about 24 minutes after liftoff, separation of the KhalifaSat satellite was confirmed.

This mission was performed along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency‘s (JAXA) Greenhouse gases Observing Satellite-2 “Gosat-2” satellite, in which the separation of the Gosat-2 satellite was also confirmed 16 minutes after liftoff.

KhalifaSat is the first national satellite manufactured by the UAE, thus the mission should prove to be a great step towards UAE’s mid-and-long term plans in government space activities and industries. Additionally, MHI holds the launch service contract for the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) spacecraft –planned to launch in 2020 – through which it hopes to build upon a strong and lasting relationship with the MBRSC and UAESA (UAE Space Agency).