Saudi Arabia Monday launched two satellites, including the first one to be launched by a local university, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Shaheen Sat 17, from King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), and CubeSat, from King Saud University (KSU), were launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan onboard Russia’s Soyuz-2 carrier rocket.

Shaheen Sat 17 is a new generation of small-size satellites and is dedicated to photographing the Earth and tracking ships from low orbits. CubeSat is the first satellite to be launched by a Saudi university. It is an educational project aiming to prepare and qualify engineering students and the university in the field of satellite design and programming.

“This achievement was the fruit of the great support that the Kingdom’s research, development, and innovation sector receives from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” said KACST chief Dr. Anas bin Faris Al-Faris.

Source Credit: Arab News