A university in Saudi Arabia has launched a miniature satellite to space to help researchers monitor natural resources in the kingdom and around the world.
The Earth observation nanosatellite, built by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, will collect high-resolution data across global terrestrial, coastal and ocean ecosystems.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the 6-unit CubeSat — an advanced modular satellite — to orbit from a California spaceport on Saturday.
A Dewa nanosatellite, built by Dubai's utility authority, was launched on the same ride-share mission.
“We're launching state-of-the-art technology on this satellite platform,” said Matthew McCabe, professor of remote sensing and water security at the university.
“It's shared knowledge, and a shared community resource. Developing a community of scientists and collaborators who can access this data will bring global perspectives to local and regional questions that we’re trying to address.”
The satellite has a hyperspectral imager, or scientific camera, that integrates with the on-board processing sensor, helping it to analyse data before it is beamed back to Earth.
Researchers will also use the satellite to get data that can help with the kingdom's Vision 2030 goals, such as protecting and restoring the environment.
The hyperspectral imager, for example, can be used to characterise terrestrial and marine systems.
This will allow scientists to assess conditions of rangelands, soils, mangroves and other plant communities.
“This is the type of mission that we want to be able to see into the future — building innovation and technology in the kingdom, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and facilitating further space exploration from Saudi Arabia,” Prof McCabe said.
The kingdom has a renewed interest in space exploration and has launched a long-term programme that includes satellite development, human space flight missions and deep-space missions in the future.
On May 8, two Saudi astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al Qarni, will travel to the International Space Station for a 10-day stay.
The trip comes nearly 40 years after Saudi Arabia sent its first citizen to space. Prince Sultan bin Salman spent a week on Nasa's Space Shuttle in 1985.
Super Bowl LIII schedule
What Super Bowl LIII
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
Salah in numbers
€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of €39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.
13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.
57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.
7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.
3: This season Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the player of the month award three times during a term. He was voted as the division's best player in November, February and March.
40: Salah joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players in Liverpool's history to have scored 40 times in a single season when he headed home against Bournemouth at Anfield earlier this month.
30: The goal against Bournemouth ensured the Egyptian achieved another milestone in becoming the first African player to score 30 times across one Premier League campaign.
8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.
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