Egypt will in December 2022 launch its new satellite, MisrSat-2, into space, just three months behind schedule despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mohammed El-Quosy, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA), has explained that MisrSat-2 was originally scheduled to launch in September 2021 but the timeline was altered due to the pandemic.
According to him, the first phase of the satellite’s initial design has been completed, and the construction of the “engineering model” is currently underway “with Chinese support.”
El-Quosy further revealed that the satellite assembly centre, Egyptian Space City, is close to completion and would be opened in March or April this year.
“Once the centre is complete, the assembly of MisrSat-2 will begin almost immediately, he said.
Egypt’s ambitious plans for its space industry are in line with the country’s strategy for sustainable development. The North African country is currently taking a leading role in the development of the African Development Satellite being manufactured by Egypt, Nigeria, Chad, Ghana, Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda.
That satellite is designed to monitor the climate change phenomena on the African continent; to demonstrate human capabilities in Africa to develop a satellite mission, and develop an in-orbit technology demonstration for African subsystems.