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[November 18, 2013] - The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) has announced that the Russian Dnepr rocket is fuelled and lowered into the silo and DubaiSat-2 has been installed in the head of the rocket, with its propulsion system fueled and ready for launch on November 21, 2013 at approximately 11.10 am Dubai time from the Yasny Cosmodrome. DubaiSat-2 will be injected into an orbital height of 600 km using the Russian Dnepr rocket launcher in cooperation with Russian International Space Company (Kosmotras). The satellite will be placed in a circular polar orbit around earth, which will circle the poles from North to South, passing over Dubai and the region four times a day. DubaiSat-2 is the primary satellite on this launch, which is joined by more than 20 smaller satellites from over 10 nations, including South Korea, Japan, the USA and others. All these satellite will be injected one by one into their specific orbits; DubaiSat-2 will be the second to be injected into its 600 km orbit. H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, EIAST, said: “All pre-launch tests and procedures have been successfully completed while our launch partners are carrying out their final checks prior to the launch. We wish for a successful launch and are optimistic that DubaiSat-2 will perform as designed and produceimages that can be used for urban planning, disaster management and scientific research.” Speaking from the launch base, Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director General - Scientific and Technical Affairs, EIAST, said: “Our team has been here for the past month working closely with our Russian partners to ensure that the satellite is ready for launch. We are now just three days away to launch DubaiSat-2 into space and are very excited to see the culmination of five years of our hard work.” EIAST has also displayed the logo of the Expo 2020 on the launcher rocket, to extend their support for Dubai's bid for World Expo 2020 into space. The satellite was recently transported from South Korea to Russia under the supervision of EIAST engineers in preparation for its launch after series of successful tests. A team of 16 Emirati engineers worked in collaboration with South Korean satellite manufacturer Satrec Initiative to build the satellite. EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 with the goal of promoting a culture of advanced scientific research and technology innovation in Dubai and the UAE, and enhancing technology innovation and scientific skills among UAE Nationals. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development; satellite manufacturing and systems development; space imaging; and ground station services and support for other satellites.
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