Orbitworks has announced that the first commercial satellite built in the United Arab Emirates has been successfully launched into Earth orbit.
The satellite is the first of the 10-satellite “Altair” constellation, designed for Earth observation and equipped with artificial intelligence systems. According to the company, chips made by Nvidia process data directly onboard the satellite, eliminating the need to transmit raw data to a ground station. The company said the results of data analysis could be ready within minutes.
Orbitworks announced that the other nine satellites in the constellation are also scheduled to be launched into space by 2027.
The project is being jointly implemented by Marlan Space and U.S.-based Loft Orbital. Hamidullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s former national security adviser, is the CEO of Orbitworks and also heads Marlan Space.
Mohib had previously said that implementing the project could help the United Arab Emirates transform from a buyer of satellite services into a provider of such services. According to published reports, the French Space Agency is also among the company’s customers.
The successful launch of the satellite is currently being reported based on an official announcement by Orbitworks.
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