Egypt is planning to launch its first satellite for communication purposes, TIBA-1, on November 22.
The satellite will be launched by Arianespace on an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou Spaceport, in French Guiana, South America.
TIBA-1 is manufactured by the consortium of French companies Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defense & Space, some of the largest international companies in the field.
Preparations so far have included TIBA-1’s fit-check – an initial milestone validating the satellite’s compatibility with the adapter that will serve as the payload interface with Ariane 5 – which was performed in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility’s S5C large clean room hall, according to a statement by Arianespace.
Based on the Eurostar E3000 satellite platform, TIBA-1 was developed by Airbus for operation by Egypt’s government and Thales Alenia Space. This communications spacecraft will weigh approximately 5,640 kg at liftoff and was designed for a service life exceeding 15 years, the statement added.
The satellite aims to promote development by providing telecommunications infrastructure and broadband internet to remote and isolated areas, support development projects in these areas, as well as bridging the digital gap between urban and rural places.
TIBA-1 also contributes to advancing the sectors of petroleum, energy, mineral resources, education, health and all other government sectors. It will support all state agencies in the fight against crime and terrorism, and contributes to providing broadband Internet services for government and commercial purposes.
The new satellite will also provide internet and telecommunications services to some Nile Basin countries based on Egypt’s efforts to cooperate with the African continent, especially in light of Egypt’s presidency of the African Union in 2019 and its hosting of the African Space Agency.
TIBA is the first of the “TIBA Sat” series, which Egypt plans to launch in the near future.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
