Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education
and Scientific Research, announced Egypt's success in receiving the first
picture of data taken from the Nexsat-1 experimental moon in cooperation with
the German company BST, in implementation of the directives of political
leadership on the settlement of space technology and the space industry in
Egypt and capacity-building and infrastructure for this sophisticated
technological sector.
Dr. Ayman Ashour explained that the launch of the satellite was in accordance
with the contract concluded between the National Remote Sensing and Space
Science Agency and BST German company, with the aim of settling space
technology through the design and manufacture of an experimental satellite
weighing about 67 kilograms and its launch and operation.
Dr. Ayman Ashour referred to the success of the system and the experiment. The
National Remote Sensing Authority was received today, 13 February 2024, at
10.26 p.m. Cairo time (10:26), the first picture of the data taken from the
experimental satellite. The first picture of the city of Asyut was received
through the Authority ' s receiving station in Aswan, the first picture taken
successfully by the Moon, confirming Egypt ' s ability to possess the technical
and technological capabilities of satellites and to receive data from
satellites.
The image of the experimental satellite NXSAT-1 was received at a single
spectrometer level of 5 meters, which could be used in some vital applications,
such as agricultural applications and re-correcting and re-treatment by
engineers at the receiving station or by scientists specializing in the
National Remote Sensing and Space Sciences Agency.
The Minister explained that this was a paradigm shift in remote sensing and
satellite technology in Egypt, particularly since Egypt ' s possession of these
technologies emphasized Egypt ' s regional and African capacity and leadership
in space technology, satellites and remote sensing, noting that these
experiments, the availability and analysis of space station and data were
strong qualifications that supported Egypt ' s leading role in providing
services to the African continent in space science and technology and remote
sensing under Egypt ' s hosting of the headquarters of the African Space
Agency.
The Minister also stressed that the Ministry continued to provide support to
research bodies to move forward in the settlement of technology and the
provision of technological products that would increase national GDP and
support development work and projects.
For his part, Dr. Islam Abu Al-Magd, Chairman of the National Authority for
Remote Sensing and Space Science, stressed that this experiment was a
complementary and successful experiment that demonstrated the Authority ' s
capabilities in remote sensing and space technology, which could contribute to
the promotion of the space and information industries at the national and
regional levels and the provision of services with economic and developmental
returns on the African continent.
Dr. Islam Abu Al-Magd noted that the National Remote Sensing and Space Science
Authority had provided the qualified human resources necessary for the
efficient implementation of the project. The project manager, the systems
engineer, the engineering team members, the reception and analysis engineers
and the reception station in Aswan were selected to carry out all the necessary
work to assemble, test, launch, receive and analyse.