The first two Moroccan university nanosatellites, “UM5-EOSat” and “UM5-Ribat”, were recently launched by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California (USA).
The project is the result of collaboration between Mohammed V University in Rabat, the National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) and the Moroccan Royal Centre for Space Studies and Research, says Rabat’s Mohammed V University in a press release.
This synergy aims to train a new generation of Moroccan university researchers and engineers in the field of space technologies.
Each of the two satellites has a mass of less than 4 kg and a volume of 300 x 100 x 100 mm. “UM5-EOSat” is equipped with a camera for Earth Observation missions, while “UM5-Ribat” is equipped with a software-defined radio (SDR), the press release said.
The UM5-EOSat is destined for Earth observation, while UM5-Ribat is equipped with advanced radio system used to determine aircraft & ship position, in addition to data collection from ground satellite stations.
Their in-orbit reprogrammable design illustrates the expertise developed within the Mohammed V University, enabling satellite functionalities to be adjusted or modified in flight as required.
The data collected by the nanosatellites will be made available to Moroccan universities.
This project shows Morocco’s determination to benefit from scientific research and space technologies to speed up the country’s growth development and progress spearheaded by King Mohammed VI.