CAIRO: A new Egyptian satellite, MisrSat-1, will launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Tuesday, announced Ukrainian Ambassador Yevhen Mykytenko. MisrSat-1 - described once by Minister of Higher Education Hany Helal as the Earth surveillance satellite - was built for development purposes, which include exploring for minerals, scientific research, cultivation and combating desertification, the ambassador told The Daily Star Egypt. MisrSat-1 is the third Egyptian satellite to be launched after broadcast NileSat-101 and NileSat-102. The launch of the Ukrainian-made satellite was first planned one year ago, but was delayed several times to be launched with six Saudi Arabian satellites that were being built in Europe. All seven will be launched by the same rocket, said the Russian space agency. Egyptian, Ukrainian, and Russian experts attend the launch of the Egyptian satellite, Mykytenko said. A fourth satellite is now in the making for aviation purposes, announced Civil Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafik in recent statements. Egypt is now building a station on its soil to follow up and control the Egyptian satellite in cooperation with Ukrainian experts, said the ambassador, but declined to announce the exact location of the station. But he added that the station should be ready in one month, according to the contract between the two sides. Until then a Ukrainian station will monitor the new satellite.
