Latest news with #Duqm-2
Observer
14-07-2025
- Science
- Observer
Duqm-2 launch aborted due to technical glitch
DUQM: Etlaq Spaceport's highly anticipated experimental rocket launch mission 'Duqm-2' was aborted due to a technical issue on Sunday. According to the company, the team behind the launch vehicle, Stellar Kinetics 'encountered an issue with a COTS valve actuator used for various systems on the Kea-1 vehicle.' Consequently, the launch has been postponed until 'a replacement solution is developed,' it stated. In a statement, HH Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said, CEO – Etlaq Spaceport, shared the following: 'Today's stand-down of the launch reflects the diligence and precision required in aerospace operations. We commend the teams, both local and international, for their disciplined decision-making in prioritizing safety and system integrity.' According to the CEO, despite the failure to launch, the mission achieved several operational milestones. 'We achieved many objectives of the Duqm-2 mission, including planning the mission, navigating regulatory processes, designing ground infrastructure, and building an integration hangar.' He added: 'Etlaq Spaceport continues to rapidly acquire knowledge to prove itself as a capable, reliable host, and this effort further strengthens our role in building sustainable, skill-based partnerships in the global launch ecosystem.' A spokesperson for Stellar Kinetics stated: 'It has been an exciting few months working closely with the Etlaq and NASCOM teams preparing for this mission. We proved out the majority of our objectives, demonstrating how fast we can move through this complex programme with our regional partners. The National Space Programme and Civil Aviation Authority provided support throughout, allowing agility and responsiveness in the regulatory environment that is immensely valuable for a fast-paced programme like the Duqm-2 mission.' The Duqm-2 mission is slated to carry two education-focused research payloads. The first is developed by the UK based Joint Universities Programme for In-Orbit Training, Education and Research (JUPITER), brought together students and researchers from the University of Surrey, the University of Portsmouth and the University of Southampton. The Jupiter payload included the Jovian-O 6U CubeSat, a prototype deployment system, and DAVE, (Dual Aperture for Viewing Earth), which is equipped with two small cameras - one to capture images and videos of Earth, and the other is a space-facing camera to monitor space debris. The second payload was developed by SIGHT Space, a Taiwanese student-led initiative from National Central University. Their PocketQube II satellite was designed to record real-time structural stress and environmental data (temperature, pressure, acceleration) during suborbital flight. Duqm-2 is part of a series of experimental launch initiative - the Genesis Programme - that aims to cultivate Oman's launch culture before the port's operation in 2027. The mission was scheduled as the second launch of the year, following the postponement of mission UNITY-1 earlier this year due to unfavourable weather conditions and technical issues.
Observer
13-07-2025
- Business
- Observer
‘Duqm-2' marks major step for Oman's space ambitions
DUQM: The second mission of a series of experimental space rocket launches, Duqm-2, has successfully concluded on Sunday without ignition of the vehicle. Stellar Kinetics' Kea-1, a two-stage guided experimental suborbital vehicle, was set to launch from Etlaq Spaceport before it was halted during the final preparations due to a technical issue with onboard actuators. Etlaq, Stellar Kinetics, and institutional partners gathered immense data leading up to the launch attempt before initiating protocols to safely unload the propellants from Kea-1 and secure the premises. Etlaq has successfully prepared and executed spaceport activities, accomplishing a number of goals and gaining critical insights across technical, operational and logistical aspects. The Duqm-2 mission supported the upskilling of Omanis in launch operations such as handling cryogenics, establishing power systems, constructing launch pad infrastructure and providing tenant services. The launch attempt marked a major operational success for Etlaq Spaceport. HH Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said, CEO of Etlaq Spaceport, said: 'We achieved many objectives of the Duqm-2 mission, including planning the mission, navigating regulatory processes, designing ground infrastructure and building an integration hangar. We commend the teams, both local and international, for their disciplined decision-making in prioritising safety and system integrity. Etlaq Spaceport continues to rapidly acquire knowledge to prove itself as a capable, reliable host, and this effort further strengthens our role in building sustainable, skill-based partnerships in the global launch ecosystem.' The experimental suborbital vehicle was designed by Stellar Kinetics to prove orbital class systems such as stage separation and guidance and navigation systems, while operating in the Middle Eastern summer on unprecedented timelines. Over the course of the two-week campaign, the vehicle underwent successful payload integration, electronics testing and fuel tank filling. A spokesperson for Stellar Kinetics said: 'It has been an exciting few months working closely with the Etlaq and NASCOM teams preparing for this mission. We proved out the majority of our objectives, demonstrating how fast we can move through this complex programme with our regional partners. The National Space Programme and Civil Aviation Authority provided support throughout, allowing agility and responsiveness in the regulatory environment that is immensely valuable for a fast paced programme like the Duqm-2 mission. The spokesperson added that the Stellar Kinetics team encountered an issue with a COTS valve actuator used for various systems on the Kea vehicle. We are postponing the launch until a replacement solution is developed. While the ignition moment was missed, this mission delivers on the calendar announced in February. Over the next 4 months we anticipate a series of subsequent launches to continue on the R&D pathway. As the programme builds momentum, we expect to see a steady stream of both experimental and commercial Stellar Kinetics vehicles launching from the Etlaq Spaceport. The Kea-1 vehicle carried two tethered payloads from international partners, spanning the UK and Taiwan, for scientific research and microgravity testing. The mission offered hands-on experience and critical data that will support the next generation of aerospace talent both locally and globally. Ieuan Carney, a PhD student from the University of Surrey leading the Jovian-O team on behalf of Jupiter, said: 'Although the payload didn't get to deploy, it's something we were prepared for because we know space projects often have setback in the early stages. We're still so proud of what we've done, developing a payload and fitting it onto a rocket.' SIGHT Space founder, Kevin Chen, said: "The experience of working alongside Stellar Kinetics and Etlaq Spaceport has been invaluable for our team and the National Central University in Taiwan. We are proud to have reached this milestone and this collaboration reminds us that progress in space always comes through testing, iteration and international cooperation." Duqm-2 stands as a proud milestone for Etlaq and Oman, reflecting its growing leadership in fostering international collaboration and enabling access to space. Etlaq Spaceport remains committed to supporting the global launch community by offering secure, responsive infrastructure for testing, suborbital research and commercial demonstration. Each mission advances the capabilities and learnings that shape the future of space access. - ONA
Muscat Daily
13-07-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
Duqm-2 space mission collects critical data despite aborted launch
Duqm – Duqm-2 space mission concluded on Sunday without launching the Kea-1 spacecraft after a technical issue with onboard actuators halted final preparations at the Etlaq Spaceport in Duqm. The mission, part of a series of experimental spaceflight efforts from Duqm, had planned to launch a two-stage guided suborbital experimental vehicle. While the launch did not proceed, mission leaders confirmed collection of critical data and successful execution of several pre-launch operations. The mission supported training in cryogenic fluid handling, launch pad operations, power system setup and spacecraft assembly. Developed by New Zealand's Stellar Kinetics, Kea-1 was equipped with two tethered payloads from research partners in the UK and Taiwan intended for scientific and microgravity experiments. H H Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said, Founder and CEO of National Aerospace Services Company (NASCOM) and Etlaq Spaceport, stated that the mission achieved its core objectives, including regulatory coordination, mission planning, ground system design and facility readiness. 'This outcome reflects the precision required in space operations. The decision to delay the launch underscores commitment to safety.' He noted that the spaceport is steadily positioning itself as a regional launch hub, adding that knowledge gained from the Duqm-2 preparations would support the future development of both the spaceport and Stellar Kinetics' launch systems. A Stellar Kinetics spokesperson confirmed that while the actuator issue delayed the Kea-1 launch, the team was able to meet most of the mission's intended milestones. Further launches remain on schedule as Stellar Kinetics and Etlaq continue development of a sustainable, experimental launch ecosystem.
Observer
07-07-2025
- Science
- Observer
Etlaq set for Duqm-2 suborbital rocket launch
DUQM: Etlaq, the MENA region's first spaceport established at Duqm in the Sultanate of Oman, is preparing for its first experimental rocket launch of the year with the 'Duqm-2' mission. The launch is scheduled sometime between 10 pm on Tuesday and 6 am on Wednesday. At the heart of the mission is KEA-1, a 12-metre, guided, two-stage suborbital vehicle built by Stellar Kinetics, a New Zealand based vertically integrated orbital rocket manufacturing start-up. Fuelled by liquid oxygen and propane, the two-tonne KEA-1 will target a 500-kilometre apogee, while demonstrating advanced spaceflight capabilities, such as stage separation and active guidance, while also proving that the rocket can perform under Middle Eastern summer conditions and under tight development timelines. A key feature of the Duqm-2 launch is its use of hot staging — a technique in which the next stage's engines ignite before the previous stage has fully separated. This contrasts with traditional staging, where the first stage shuts down and detaches before the next stage ignites. Onboard the mission are a pair of education-centric research payload suites. The first is from UK based Joint Universities Programme for In-Orbit Training, Education and Research (JUPITER), representing a collaboration of the University of Surrey, the University of Portsmouth and the University of Southampton. The JUPITER payload consists of two satellites: a Jovian-O 6U cube satellite (CubeSat) carrying a prototype deployment system; and an earth observation instrument, DAVE (Dual Aperture for Viewing Earth), which is equipped with two small cameras - one to capture images and videos of Earth, and the other is a space-facing camera to monitor space debris. The second payload comes from Taiwan-based 'SIGHT Space', a student-founded space education initiative from the National Central University. SIGHT Space's SIGHT PocketQube II satellite is designed to measure real-time structural stress and environmental data (temperature, pressure, acceleration) during suborbital flight. It is part of an ongoing effort to build small, accessible satellite platforms for education, research and lightweight spaceflight validation. Significantly, the latest Duqm-2 mission follows the successful launch of Duqm-1 in December 2024, which marked Oman's entry into space. Earlier this year, Etlaq officials unveiled that Duqm-3, scheduled for launch in October, will have a more complex launch and operational procedures, while Duqm-4, scheduled during December, will also have different parameters. The missions are part of the spaceport's recently announced experimental rocket launch initiative, dubbed the Genesis Programme, which aims to develop Oman's space launch culture before full-scale commercial operations in 2027.
Muscat Daily
05-07-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
Maritime curbs announced for Duqm-2 test launch
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Muscat – Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has imposed temporary restrictions on fishing and maritime activities along parts of Al Wusta's coastline ahead of the experimental launch of the Duqm-2 rocket. Led by Etlaq Spaceport, in cooperation with New Zealand's Stellar Kinetics, the launch is scheduled to take place from Duqm. Authorities have instructed fishermen, boat owners and other maritime operators to avoid the designated areas during the early morning hours of July 6, 8 and 9, between midnight and 6am. The cautionary measure is aimed at ensuring public safety, with officials noting that the rocket's drop zone is expected to be within 500m of the launch pad. The ministry stated that the test is designed to assess the organisational and operational processes required for space launches in Oman. It is part of efforts to develop regulatory frameworks and infrastructure for both domestic and international companies interested in orbital and sub-orbital activities. Launch of Duqm-2 is seen as a step forward in Oman's broader ambitions to establish itself as a regional hub for aerospace and space exploration.
