The two satellites, Shahin Sat 17, affiliated with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and CubeSate Satellite, affiliated with King Saud University (KSU), have been launched from the Baikonur Base in Kazakhstan on board the Russian Soyuz 2 Rocket.
The KAUST satellite, Shahin Sat 17, is considered to be a new generation of small size satellites and was allocated for tracking ships from low orbits, and also includes a payload of a telescope with a high definition quality of filming plus a payload for tracking marine ships. The satellite enjoys a filming quality that can reach up to 0.9 meter and a weight that does not exceed 75 kilograms with dimensions of 56x56x97 centimeters.
A new generation of small size satellites
As for the CubeSat Satellite, affiliated with KSU, it is the first satellite to be launched by a Saudi university, and its size is 10x10x10 centimeters and weighs one kilogram. This satellite is an educational project that aims at preparing and training engineering students at the university in the field of designing and programming satellites.