Khaberni - The Saudi Space Agency announced the successful launch of the Saudi satellite "Shams" and its communication, aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) vehicle as part of the "Artemis2" mission, marking the kingdom's presence as the first Arab country to launch a space mission as part of the historic "Artemis" program, aimed at accelerating the pace of scientific innovation and establishing quality international partnerships to shape the future of space.
The "Shams" satellite aims to study space weather and monitor the effects of solar activity and radiation on Earth, through four diverse scientific pillars: space radiation, solar X-rays, Earth's magnetic field, and high-energy solar particles.
In this context, the satellite "Shams" will move to a high elliptical orbit (HEO), ranging from about 500 kilometers to 70,000 kilometers away from Earth, allowing broad coverage to monitor the effects of solar activity and radiation, enhancing space weather studies, providing an advanced scientific environment, and supporting vital applications linked to it.
"Shams" represents multiple firsts; it is the first Arab mission launched into space under the "Artemis" program, and the first national mission specialized in monitoring space weather, affirming advances in national capabilities in advanced space technologies. It was developed within the Kingdom by national capabilities, supported by initiatives of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, one of the programs achieving Saudi Vision 2030.
Artemis 2 mission is the second stage of NASA-led Artemis program, which involves broad international participation, aiming to return humans to the moon's vicinity for the first time in over five decades, paving the way for future missions to Mars.
The mission carries a crew of four astronauts in the first manned flight to orbit the moon, aboard the "Orion" spacecraft powered by the Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful launch vehicle operated in a mission so far in space history, carrying the Saudi satellite Shams as one of the scientific payloads onboard.
In addition, Saudi officials expressed their pride in launching this scientific mission that enhances the reliability and sustainability of vital sectors linked to space, such as communications, aviation, and navigation, by providing scientific data that enables relevant entities to raise operational readiness and strengthen the security of the technical infrastructure relied upon by the world in daily life, according to the Saudi Space Agency.
As for him, Abdullah Al-Swaha, the Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, tweeted through his account on X, saying: "We congratulate the nation on this historic achievement by sending the first Arab mission as part of the Artemis program in partnership with NASA. This Saudi research laboratory serves humanity, by monitoring space weather, measuring radiation, and securing astronauts' trips."
And said Dr. Mohammed Al-Tamimi, the acting CEO of the Saudi Space Agency, what was achieved today is the fruit of the unlimited support that the space sector receives from the Saudi leadership, which has contributed to empowering national capabilities and enhancing their ability to participate in prominent global space missions.
He continued: "This achievement embodies the scientific and technological progress the Kingdom has reached under Saudi Vision 2030, and reflects its active role in developing advanced technologies, and contributing to shaping the future of space for humanity."
On his part, Engineer Jameel Al-Ghamdi, the CEO of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, explained that developing the satellite Shams within the Kingdom embodies the impact of the program's initiatives in localizing advanced technologies and building competitive national industrial capacities, confirming that this achievement reflects the integration of national efforts in empowering capabilities and enhancing local content, in support of the targets of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Saudi Space Agency confirmed that this achievement embodies the Kingdom's vision in enhancing innovation, developing national capabilities, and building quality international partnerships, contributing to its role in shaping the future of space exploration.
