science

KhalifaSat

KhalifaSat is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand KhalifaSat rather than just read about it. In short: KhalifaSat (Arabic: خليفة سات), is a remote sensing Earth observation satellite that was designed and built at the Space Technology Laboratories of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. It is considered the first entirely Emirati-made satellite.

Key takeaways

KhalifaSat belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect KhalifaSat to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of KhalifaSat from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

KhalifaSat (Arabic: خليفة سات), is a remote sensing Earth observation satellite that was designed and built at the Space Technology Laboratories of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. It is considered the first entirely Emirati-made satellite. It launched into orbit on 30 October 2018 from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center using the Korean Satrec SI-300 bus.

Overview The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre is a Dubai government based space centre working on the National Space programme. MBRSC already has two Earth observation satellites in orbit, DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2, which were built in partnership with Satrec Initiative, a South Korean satellite manufacturer. The project was officially announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Ruler of Dubai, in December 2013. The manufacture of KhalifaSat began in South Korea at Satrec Initiative's facilities. A team of Emirati engineers used the facilities there while the Advanced Technology Laboratories under the supervision of Korean Satrec scientists. In early 2015, the project was moved to MBRSC for the finishing touches.

Objectives KhalifaSat provides high-resolution imagery of Earth to be used for various purposes, including urban planning, change monitoring, area classification, monitoring environmental change and aiding relief efforts for natural disasters The satellite imagery from KhalifaSat will be provided to local government entities and a number of commercial entities both locally and internationally. The MBRSC also aims to help diversify career paths for young Emiratis, along with creating a legacy for the satellite industry in UAE.

Technical insights

KhalifaSat is hexagonal in shape with four deployable solar panels. The satellite bus comprises three decks and also an upper sun shield, which will protect the camera from temperature fluctuations and radiation. The solar panels are attached to the sides of the satellite bus structure, the frame of which is manufactured from longerons and rails.

The satellite shell is just under two metres in height and less than 1.5 metres in diameter. The total mass of the spacecraft is estimated to be around 330 kg. The most sensitive component in the satellite is its Camera System (KHCS). This will be covered with a Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sun shield to protect it against harmful radiation. KhalifaSat contains an advanced positioning technique that allows the capture of a large number of 3D images at once with greater accuracy and quick response.

KhalifaSat camera system (KHCS)

The primary payload on the satellite is the KhalifaSat Camera System, which is compact and lightweight. It includes three main subsystems: the Electro-Optical Subsystem (EOS), the Image Transmission Unit (ITU) and the Solid State Recorder (SSR).

The pushbroom camera has a 70 cm Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) for panchromatic imagery and 298 cm GSD in four multi-spectral bands. The multi-spectral capabilities of KhalifaSat include four channels in both the visible and near infrared spectral ranges (red, green, blue, and near infrared) with a radiometric resolution of 10 bits. The camera system also includes a Korsch telescope, comprising a three-mirror configuration that provides the widest possible field of view and reduces optical irregularities.

Imaging modes

The advanced camera system of KhalifaSat features several imaging modes: Single Pass Stereo and tri-Stereo Imaging - images can be acquired of any target from two different angles. This feature enables the generation of stereo pair images. Multi-point Imaging - allows capture of multiple targets located within 600 km of the ground track, manoeuvring between targets. Single Strip Imaging - images up to 12 km in width and 1500 km long can be captured. Space Imaging – the satellite can point to outer space objects like the Moon and stars for enhancement of the image quality. Area Imaging - images up to 36 km in width through advanced control system that enables three consecutive imaging in one pass to extend the swath width.

Critical design review In January 2016, MBRSC announced that the final design completion of the engineering model of KhalifaSat had passed the Critical Design Review (CDR). This also included the approval of the proposed software and systems that will be part of the satellite. Following the successful CDR the team is now working on KhalifaSat's flight model.

Launch window MBRSC has an agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) for the launch of KhalifaSat to take place in Japan. The launch vehicle will be the H-IIA rocket and is scheduled to launch in 2018, before placing KhalifaSat into a Low Earth Orbit.

Ground control The MBRSC ground station in Dubai, UAE, will support KhalifaSat and its functions from Earth. The ground system includes three main subsystems: the Antenna and Radio Frequency (RF) subsystem, Mission Control Station (MCS), and Image Receiving and Processing Station (IRPS). The main function of the Antenna and RF subsystem is to transmit imaging orders, give commands to the satellite, receive information and download images through the X-band feed. The MCS plans and operates the entire mission. This includes the configuration and scheduling of resources for both space and ground elements. The IRPS provides real-time receiving and processing of downlink data. It also generates standard image products and catalogues, manages archives, and interfaces with client IRPS.

Team The satellite was developed by a team of Emirati engineers from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. KhalifaSat project manager is Amer AlGhafri. The satellite launch manager is Abdullah Saif Harmoul while the head of the Detail Control Unit is flight software engineer Ibrahim Abdullah Almidfa.

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with KhalifaSat

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what KhalifaSat claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to KhalifaSat before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about KhalifaSat ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of KhalifaSat

In research: KhalifaSat appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses KhalifaSat in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: KhalifaSat is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 2018 in the United Arab Emirates, Earth imaging satellites, Satellites of the United Arab Emirates, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for KhalifaSat outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study KhalifaSat in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what KhalifaSat means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain KhalifaSat out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is KhalifaSat in simple terms?

Why does KhalifaSat matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study KhalifaSat?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on KhalifaSat.