The Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) successfully launched its experimental satellite, NExSat-1, using China’s Jielong-3 orbital launch vehicle, on Saturday 3 February 2024. NExSat-1, a microsatellite weighing 67 kg, received initial signals after the launch, confirming its functionality.
The satellite, developed in collaboration with Germany’s Berlin Space Technologies (BST), is designed for remote sensing.
The Egyptian Space Agency designed the space mission for the satellite; it specified the technical requirements for its subsystems, collaborating with the German side in the satellite’s design, creating a complete Egyptian version of the satellite’s software, assembling, integrating, and testing the satellite, coordinating the entire launch process, and designing and implementing a complete control station in Egypt.
Sherif Sedky, EgSA’s CEO, highlighted the importance of NExSat-1 in advancing micro-satellite technology in Egypt and Africa. The Egyptian side also managed the entire launch process, established a control station in Egypt for communication and data retrieval, and collaborated with the German team on design and technical aspects.
