Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain have jointly launched two satellites dedicated to Earth monitoring and climate change tracking, representing a significant advancement in their space exploration initiatives.

According to Anadolu Agency, the UAE's Etihad-SAT, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 10:39 a.m. UAE time (0639 GMT) aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

The Etihad-SAT features advanced radar technology that can capture high-precision images irrespective of weather conditions. This technology will enhance environmental monitoring, detect oil leaks, track maritime traffic, and support smart agriculture efforts. This launch is a milestone, marking a decade since the UAE formally entered the space sector, following the establishment of the UAE Space Agency in 2014 and its Hope Probe mission to Mars.

Bahrain's Al-Munther, the nation's first satellite, was launched at 9:39 a.m. Bahrain time (0639 GMT) on the same Falcon 9 rocket under the Transporter-13 mission. Al-Munther is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that enable it to analyze space images onboard, significantly reducing data processing times by eliminating the need for transmission to ground stations.

The Al-Munther satellite will contribute to environmental monitoring, desertification studies, urban planning, food security, and management of population density. Operating at an altitude of 550 kilometers (342 miles) above Earth, it is expected to have a mission duration of five years. Mohamed Ibrahim Al Aseeri, CEO of Bahrain's National Space Science Agency, highlighted that this launch is a major milestone in Bahrain's pursuit of a significant role in the global space sector.