MANAMA, Bahrain, March 15: Bahrain announced on Saturday the successful launch of its first satellite, Al-Munther, into orbit, marking the beginning of the initial operational phase and the testing of space systems in orbit.

According to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the satellite reached its orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, launched as part of the SpaceX Transporter 13 mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, USA.

Lieutenant-General Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor, Commander of the Bahraini Royal Guard, and Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council, emphasized that the space sector is one of the most promising and rapidly growing areas of the future knowledge-based and innovative economy. He expressed hope for further space projects that would enhance Bahrain's global standing and help realize the Kingdom's ambitious vision under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Lieutenant-General Al Khalifa congratulated the Bahraini leadership and government on this achievement and praised the members of the National Space Science Agency (NSSA) for their dedication, perseverance, and hard work in overcoming numerous challenges to accomplish this goal. He commended the NSSA team's efforts, which have now become part of Bahrain's bright history, full of remarkable achievements.

Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Deputy National Security Advisor, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NSSA, stressed that the agency’s board of directors prioritizes tangible technological progress in the national space sector. He emphasized the importance of investing in human capital, both scientifically and technically, and highlighted the NSSA's efforts to launch initiatives that contribute to the agency's strategic goals. Sheikh Khalid also mentioned the agency’s commitment to building strong partnerships with other space agencies and specialized companies to enhance international cooperation and support Bahrain’s progress in the space sector.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Asiri, CEO of the NSSA, stated that the successful launch of Al-Munther represents a significant milestone in Bahrain’s journey to become a leader in the space sector. He praised the achievements of the NSSA team, whose hard work led to the successful placement of Al-Munther into orbit, allowing the team to begin the satellite's initial operations and testing of space systems.

Dr. Al-Asiri highlighted that the satellite was entirely designed and built by Bahraini talent, with the NSSA team innovating, designing, and constructing its payloads. This achievement marks a national contribution to the growing global space sector. He added that this accomplishment reflects Bahrain's commitment to realizing the royal vision of positioning the Kingdom as a leader in space and supporting national development, including Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The initial operational and testing phase in orbit is a critical stage that involves sending vital signals to confirm the operation of the satellite’s internal systems. This phase will also include a series of tests for subsystems to ensure the efficiency of communication, data processing, and the accuracy of control and direction determination. These steps are necessary to ensure the satellite’s full operational readiness before transitioning to normal operations, which will include capturing space images, transmitting them to the ground station, and testing subpayloads, such as artificial intelligence algorithms and space cybersecurity systems.