CAIRO, Jun 27 (NNN-MENA) – Two China-funded prototype satellites of the MisrSat II satellite project, were delivered to the Egyptian side on Sunday, making Egypt the first African country with the capacity to assemble, integrate and test satellites.
During the delivery ceremony, held at the Egyptian Space Agency, near the country’s New Administrative Capital, Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat thanked China for supporting and cooperating with the agency, and being a “strategic partner and friend” of Egypt.
She noted that, the China-funded MisrSat II satellite and satellite assembly, integration and test (AIT) centre, has greatly boosted Egypt’s capacities in satellite research, development, measurement and control, making Egypt a leading African country in the aerospace field.
“The advanced devices and effective technology we saw today are important for Egypt as they open a gateway for cooperation with Africa in this field,” she said.
Describing the MisrSat II satellite project as another landmark outcome of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, between China and Egypt, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt, Liao Liqiang said, the project has laid a solid foundation for Egypt’s space industry, and will promote the development of space technology on the African continent.
According to the Chinese ambassador, it is the first time that China has completed a large-scale overseas test on an entire satellite and delivered a satellite cooperation project overseas.
“Egypt is the first African country to have complete satellite assembly, integration and testing capabilities,” Liao said.
Sherif Sedky, chief executive officer of the Egyptian Space Agency, said, over the past three months, Egyptian and Chinese engineers and joined hands to run every stage of the tests on the three MisrSat II satellites, comprising two prototype models and one flight model.
He noted that, these tests inaugurated the largest satellite AIT centre in Africa and the Middle East, which was fully equipped through a grant from China.
“The centre is the first of its kind to localise the satellite industry in Egypt. It also gives Egypt a leading role in transferring this technology to Africa,” Sedky said.
After the delivery of the two prototype satellites in Cairo, an in-orbit delivery of the flight model of the MisrSat II satellite has also been scheduled.
