Saudi launches communications sat
India successfully launches its latest GSAT-31
RIYADH, Feb 6, (KUNA): Saudi Arabia’s first communication satellite (SGS-1) has been launched successfully from Guiana Space Centre in Guiana region of France on the northeast coast of South America on Tuesday.
An Ariane 5 rocket put the satellite into orbit, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported this evening, citing a statement by King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz signed the final piece of satellite before its launch with the words, “above the clouds.”
Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khaled bin AbdulAziz Al-Falih hailed the event as “a spectacular national achievement.”
“This achievement is the fruit of the great support provided to the Kingdom’s research and development sector by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince,” Eng Al-Falih, also chairman of the KACST, said.
The launch is part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims at localizing strategic technologies in the Kingdom, increasing local content and enabling Saudi young people to work with advanced state-ofthe-art technologies in the field of satellite development and manufacturing.
Richard Edwards, Executive VicePresident of Lockheed Martin International lauded his company’s strategic partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, saying, “The successful launch of this satellite is a first step in our unique partnership with KACST and
something that was walking across the top of his habitat,” said Joel Hamilton, curator and vice president at the zoo.
Now the walls and roof are of 2-inch the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is established on innovation, science, technology and HR development.”
The SGS-1 was developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin; the process included the qualification of a number of Saudi engineers in compliance with the standards and requirements adopted by the company.
The process is part of transfer of technological expertise and know-how to the Saudi cadres.
Capabilities
The satellite aims to employ advanced Ka-band capabilities to enable space communications at ultra-fast speeds, as part of the national strategic plan to fulfill the Kingdom’s domestic requirements, provide high-specification communications services specifically custom-made for the government sector and, at a commercial level, exporting these services to the MENA region, Europe, Africa and Central Asia.
It has a multi-beam payload that provides a total throughput capacity of over 34 gigabits per second, as well as highly efficient solar panels that generate power with a total capacity exceeding 20 Kw; it will be operated and controlled by Saudi national cadres.
The SGS-1 has a processing unit that is capable of altering the ascending and descending signal configurations, a distribution unit that is able to pass communications to users, bypassing ground stations.
In addition, it carries a communication
(5-centimeter) mesh, too small for Valerio’s jaw. The twisted steel is also thicker.
The zoo also installed four video cameras and an electrified wire around the roof, including Ku-band payload dedicated to Halasat, one of Arabsat’s affiliate companies.
The SGS-1 employs hybrid (electric and chemical) propelling systems, which has helped to reduce the satellite’s weight while increasing its life expectancy. It weighs 6.5 tons and has a life expectancy of over 20 years.
It also uses advanced technologies enabling it to provide highly secured and anti-interference telecommunications, according to the SPA report.
The SGS-1, which is the first satellite of its kind to be owned by the Kingdom, will offer multiple applications that include broadband telecommunications, highly secured communications, as well as communications dedicated for remote areas and disaster-stricken areas.
India successfully launched on Wednesday its latest communication satellite, GSAT-31, from the Spaceport in French Guiana on board launch vehicle Ariane 5 VA-247, India’s Department of Space said.
In a statement, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is primary research and development wing of the Department of Space, said that the communication satellite was launched successfully during the early hours at Indian time 2:31 am from Kourou Launch Base, French Guiana.
GSAT-31, with a lift-off mass of 2,536 kg “will provide continuity to operational services on some of the inorbit satellites.”
around the tops of internal columns. The “hot-wire” is used on a number of exhibits, but hadn’t been installed in the jaguar exhibit before Valerio’s escape. (AP)
Climate minister resigns:
A Belgian environment minister resigned Tuesday after claiming she had confirmation from state security services that massive climate demonstrations in recent weeks were staged as a plot against her.
Though regional environment minister Joke Schauvliege initially failed to step down after admitting she had no such information from intelligence officials, she resigned after talks with her party leadership.
“I said something that was not correct,” Schauvliege said, but insisted it didn’t amount to lying.
The opposition said it was outrageous to lie and abuse the name of the state security organization for personal purposes and also said she sought to discredit a just cause that is widely shared in the nation.
“This way, it is tough to continue on as climate minister,” she said at an emotional news conference.
Over the past two months, tens of thousands of protesters have demonstrated across Belgium for better climate protections and have often targeted Schauvliege’s policies, which they consider woefully insufficient. (AP)