The United Arab Emirates have decided to launch the Falcon Eye 2 optical reconnaissance satellite, reports Vedomosti newspaper. The newspaper refers to undisclosed managers of space manufacturing enterprises. Soyuz-ST was chosen as a launcher.
According to the newspaper, “The confirmation letter dated November, 26 was received by Roscosmos from Stephane Israel, the CEO of Arianespace, who is in charge for commercial operation of launch rockets from the Kuru Cosmodrome (French Guiana).
The publication underlines that the earliest date of spacecraft launch is February 20. Falcon Eye 2 is the second military satellite of the type to be orbited by Arianespace upon agreement with the UAE.
Both spacecrafts were developed by Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space corporations, who should have started orbital operations as early as the next year but the launch of the first spacecraft on July 11 failed through loss of Vega rocket which exploded two minutes after the launch.
This stimulated the UAE to start negotiations with Roscosmos concerning the launch of the second satellite on the Russian rocket. The rocket and the upper stage that could be used for satellite launch have already been manufactured and are in Kuru at the moment, needing for some adaptation to the Arab spacecraft and rocket preparation.
The UAE’s satellite will be accomplishing both military missions related to Earth surface monitoring and civil missions.
Source - Interfax-Military News Agency
