Latest news with #EtlaqSpaceport
The National
5 days ago
- Business
- The National
Second rocket launch from Oman's spaceport called off but momentum builds
Oman's ambitious mission to develop a commercial rocket launch site to put the country at the centre of the region's growing space sector is taking shape, even after a recent test mission setback. Oman's plans to carry out a second rocket launch from its under-construction spaceport were called off on Sunday after engineers discovered a technical problem shortly before lift-off. The Duqm-2 mission was expected to launch a 12-metre experimental suborbital rocket from Etlaq Spaceport, the Middle East's first commercial launch site, in the remote coastal desert of Duqm. But a fault was found in the rocket's actuator, a device that helps control systems on the launch vehicle. Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said, chief executive of the spaceport, said the mission had still met many of its goals. '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 said. The Kea-1 rocket, developed by Stellar Kinetics, a private company from New Zealand, was meant to travel into suborbital space on a short test flight. 'Building momentum' A company representative said the rocket had performed well in all steps before the final countdown, including preparing the launchpad, filling the rocket's tanks and integrating the two payloads from international partners. 'Over the next four months we anticipate a series of subsequent launches to continue on the research and development pathway,' they said. '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." Start-ups involved The Duqm-2 mission involved start-ups from the UK and Taiwan, who developed small satellite payloads to ride on the rocket. A team from Jupiter, a UK-based space start-up, built a small satellite called Jovian-O and an Earth observation device. Ieuan Carney, a PhD student at the University of Surrey, said being a part of the mission was exciting. '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,' he said. 'We're still so proud of what we've done, developing a payload and fitting it on to a rocket.' Sight Space from Taiwan developed a tiny satellite designed to measure stress and environmental conditions during the launch process. Etlaq momentum This was the second of five launch attempts planned at Etlaq Spaceport this year. The first in April was meant to see a 1-metre rocket lift-off but it was delayed and has not yet taken off. An attempt Stellar Kinetics is expected in October involving the Kea-2 rocket. A Kuwaiti start-up will try to launch its experimental rocket in November, and a fifth attempt will be made, again by Stellar Kinetics, in December. The spaceport's first test flight was in December 2024, when a 6.5-metre rocket blasted off on a high-altitude test flight. Etlaq is the Middle East's first commercial spaceport and is being positioned as a fast-track launch site for start-ups. It offers quick access to rocket testing, while plans for construction of a full-scale orbital spaceport are progressing ahead of a scheduled 2027 opening. This year's five launch attempts are being made possible by the new Genesis programme at Etlaq, which involved creating temporary but fully operational facilities at the spaceport. This allows companies to plan and execute high-altitude missions in as little as 13 weeks. The streamlined process is designed to cater to the growing demand from private companies, in contrast to the practice in countries such the US, where launch approval from the Federal Aviation Administration can take months. The Genesis operations occupy only about 10 per cent of the spaceport's capacity. The rest of the site is being reserved for the much larger, permanent orbital-class complex, which will feature three launch complexes and four pads, designed to support small, medium and heavy-lift vehicles. Construction on the full orbital spaceport is expected to begin next year, with commercial operations scheduled to start at the end of 2027.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Science
- Zawya
Oman: 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. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
6 days ago
- 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.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Is Oman's proximity to equator the secret to its growing space launch potential?
Oman's Etlaq spaceport is shaping the Sultanate's rise as a regional space launch hub, backed by its equatorial location and expanding infrastructure/Representative Image With its strategic location near the equator and open coastal geography, Oman is emerging as a prime platform for space vehicle launches. The Sultanate's expanding infrastructure and favourable geographical conditions have attracted interest from international aerospace companies and are now paving the way for Oman to position itself as a regional and global space launch hub. Equatorial Advantage and Coastal Launch Sites Oman's proximity to the equator offers a significant scientific and economic edge rockets launched closer to the equator require less fuel due to the Earth's rotation aiding velocity. In addition, Oman's coastal access to the Indian Ocean and low population density near potential launch sites enhance safety and logistical feasibility. 'Oman's unique position makes it ideal for multi-orbit launches, including equatorial, sun-synchronous, polar, medium Earth, and geostationary orbits,' said HH Sayyid Azzan Qais Al Said, Founder and CEO of the National Aerospace Services Company (NASCOM) and Etlaq Spaceport in a public statement. Etlaq Spaceport and Duqm-1: Laying the Groundwork The Etlaq Spaceport marked Oman's formal entry into the regional space race with its first space launch 'Duqm-1', the first of its kind in the Middle East. Located at 18 degrees latitude, the site enables diverse orbital access and will play a key role in future missions. Etlaq's vision includes: A second launch pad for experimental missions A spacecraft assembly facility An Omani Formation Program that supports experimental launches within 14 weeks of planning A long-term plan to be fully operational by 2027 The program also emphasises local talent development in space sciences and advanced engineering fields. Government Backing and Vision 2040 Alignment Dr. Saud Hamid Al Shukaili, Director General of Policies & Governance and Head of the National Space Program at the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, affirmed the government's commitment to making Oman a competitive destination for global space investments. 'The space launch project supports Oman Vision 2040 by attracting international space companies and strengthening national capabilities in spacecraft design, launch operations, and aerospace technology.'
