Tech Talk: Bahrain’s first satellite lift-off today – Gulf Digital News

Tech Talk: Bahrain’s first satellite lift-off today – Gulf Digital News

BAHRAIN is stepping into the space age with the launch of its first-ever satellite today.

The nanosatellite Light-1, a joint endeavour between Bahrain and the UAE, is scheduled to lift off at 1.06pm Bahrain time from the Nasa Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, the US, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The satellite will head towards the International Space Station’s Japanese Experiment Module, nicknamed Kibo, from where it will be deployed into orbit.

“Light-1 is a result of collaboration between the UAE Space Agency and Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency (NSSA), along with Khalifa University and New York University Abu Dhabi,” noted NSSA chief executive Dr Mohamed Al Aseeri.

Named after His Majesty King Hamad’s book, First Light, the satellite is a major achievement for the kingdom.

“This is a significant step towards establishing Bahrain in the space sector, following its new national strategy for space research,” Dr Al Aseeri added.

“The new satellite will bring important scientific and technological contributions, collecting data about thunderstorms previously unavailable in the Middle East.”

Light-1’s chief mission is to observe terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGRs) produced through thunderstorms, and studying their effects on the atmosphere and on humans.

TGRs are emitted for mere milliseconds during lightning.

The spacecraft will be equipped