Tech Talk: Space seven – Gulf Digital News

Tech Talk: Space seven – Gulf Digital News

Launching a nanosatellite may just be the advent of Bahrain’s space programme, but the faces behind the space sojourn dream of a ‘Made-in-Bahrain’ satellite, a ground station and even a Bahraini astronaut.

The satellite team at the National Space Science Agency (NSSA) even sees the space economy as a potential source of foreign direct investment, and is ready for “bigger projects and challenges.”

“This was actually the second satellite we built, having been part of the team that built DhabiSat along with other Khalifa University students,” added NSSA space engineer Ali AlQaraan.

“And keep in mind, this was done alongside our studies and we were constantly dividing our time between work and education.”

In addition to Ali AlQaraan, engineering specialist Aysha AlHaram, senior data analyst Amina AlBalooshi, engineering specialist Ali AlMahmood, senior space engineer Ashraf Khater as well as fellow space engineers Yaqoob AlQassab and Ahmed Bushlaibi each played a key role in the mission.

The seven were part of a 30-person team, collaborating with the UAE Space Agency, Khalifa University and New York University Abu Dhabi.

At the helm of the Bahraini team, 30-year-old Aysha was part of the project management crew overseeing systems

Having completed her Bachelor’s in computer engineering and Master’s degree in