• A UAE satellite is carried into space on a Russian rocket. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
    A UAE satellite is carried into space on a Russian rocket. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
  • A Russian Soyuz rocket carried a small UAE satellite, PHI-Demo, into space on June 27, 2023. Photo: Roscosmos
    A Russian Soyuz rocket carried a small UAE satellite, PHI-Demo, into space on June 27, 2023. Photo: Roscosmos
  • The PHI-Demo CubeSat, a 20kg modular satellite, lifted-off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia at 3.35pm, UAE time, aboard a Soyuz-2 rocket. Photo: Roscosmos
    The PHI-Demo CubeSat, a 20kg modular satellite, lifted-off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia at 3.35pm, UAE time, aboard a Soyuz-2 rocket. Photo: Roscosmos
  • This satellite has technology from two companies integrated into it, allowing them to get quicker access to space instead of having to spend time and funds on building their own satellite. Photo: Roscosmos
    This satellite has technology from two companies integrated into it, allowing them to get quicker access to space instead of having to spend time and funds on building their own satellite. Photo: Roscosmos
  • Emirati engineers work on the PHI-Demo CubeSat. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
    Emirati engineers work on the PHI-Demo CubeSat. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
  • The PHI-Demo CubeSat seen inside a clean room. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
    The PHI-Demo CubeSat seen inside a clean room. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

UAE satellite blasts into space on Russian rocket


Sarwat Nasir
  • English
  • Arabic

A UAE satellite was carried into space by a Russian Soyuz rocket on Tuesday, helping to pave the way for a collaboration between the Emirates and the UN created to broaden access to space travel.

The PHI-Demo CubeSat, a 20kg modular satellite, lifted-off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia at 3.35pm UAE time aboard a Soyuz-2 carrier.

The satellite shares technology from two companies, allowing them quicker access to space instead of spending time and money on building satellites of their own.

It is the first mission under the Payload Hosting Initiative, a platform from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre that offers opportunities to start-up businesses and countries.

“We have lift-off. The Soyuz-2 rocket carrying the PHI-Demo has launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia,” the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre tweeted.

UK company SteamJet Space Systems is one of the companies whose technology is aboard the PHI-Demo satellite.

It is a propulsion subsystem that uses water to fuel the spacecraft, offering a greener and more sustainable power.

US company OQ Technology has its Internet of Things communication system integrated into the satellite.

It stores and forwards data collected from IoT devices in remote areas, industries and autonomous vehicles using 5G technology.

Amer Al Sayegh, senior director of the space engineering at MBRSC, said that these small satellites are being tested in space for the first time.

“These small satellites play a crucial role worldwide by providing new data monitoring Earth's terrain and serving users around the globe,” he said.

“Thus, we encourage companies and researchers at universities to develop these techniques.

“We aim to support various entities worldwide by providing them with the opportunity to launch instruments they have expertise in and test them in space.”

Solar panels on the satellite will be activated once it is in orbit, at an altitude of 550km, later on launch day.

A five-day period has been allotted for this phase, during which the space centre's technical team will maintain daily 10-minute communications with the satellite as it passes over the UAE.

Laboratories at the American University in Ras Al Khaimah and Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi will also be communicating with the satellite.

“Upon successful completion of the five days, the team will embark on payload operations,” the space centre said.

“Command operations will be handled from the ground stations located within the university campus, with the university's faculty members leading the operation.”

The next satellite under the Payload Hosting Initiative is the PHI-1 CubeSat.

Bahrain and Nepal were selected to add their technologies to the satellite.

Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency will develop the Aman payload, which will help secure communication between the satellite and ground station.

Nepal’s Antarikchya Pratisthan, a non-profit organisation, will build the Danfe Space Mission – technology that will study the operation of drones in space.

What is a robo-adviser?

Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.

These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.

Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

Karwaan

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Akarsh Khurana

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar

Rating: 4/5

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De De Pyaar De

Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Bio

Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride

She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.

Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years

Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves

She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in

The biog

Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer

Favourite superhero: Batman

Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.

Favourite car: Lamborghini

Five healthy carbs and how to eat them

Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand

Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat  

Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar

Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices

Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants

Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique

THE SPECS

      

 

Engine: 1.5-litre

 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

Price: From Dh59,700 

 

On sale: now  

 

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Tips from the expert

Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.

  1. Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
  2. It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
  3. Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
  4. Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
While you're here
Health Valley

Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)

Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)

Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)

Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

Porsche Macan T: The Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo 

Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm 

Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm 

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto 

Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec 

Top speed: 232kph 

Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km 

On sale: May or June 

Price: From Dh259,900  

Updated: June 27, 2023, 5:19 PM