September 21, 2007: Russia will launch the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) first space satellite; DubaiSat-1. The launch will be next
year, and the satellite will have several different sensors, to be used for
monitoring and measuring natural resources on land and in the Persian Gulf. The
is a small bird, going up in a package with several others of the same size.
Saudi Arabia has also put up mini-sats, partly as a science experiment, partly
as a PR exercise. The UAE has done a lot of military/space business with
Russia, as part of a deal to work of a half-billion dollar debt from the
pre-1991 Soviet era. As a result of that, the UAE has 415 Russian BMP-3
infantry fighting vehicles, and SA-18 anti-aircraft missiles. Russia continues
to supply spare parts and technical support for this equipment.
