MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman launches its first experimental space rocket from its territory with the participation of 15 Omani engineers and technicians.
The launch of the first experimental rocket, "Duqm-1" took place on December 5 in Al Wusta Governorate, 170 km from the Duqm Special Economic Zone at Etlaq Spaceport, a project by the National Aerospace Services Company (NASCOM). National cadres including 15 Omani engineers and technicians worked closely in all stages of the project, from planning to implementation, where they led the mission to success as a result of their experience and skills through direct collaboration with international partners.
The participation of the Omani team in launching the experimental rocket from the space launch port in the Hitam area south of the Wilayat of Al Duqm helped develop the team's capabilities in rocket engineering and spaceport operations, as this experience represented an exceptional opportunity to qualify a new generation of Omani engineers, encourage them, increase their interest in the fields of science and technology, invest in building national expertise and capabilities, lay the foundations for sustainability in the space sector in the Sultanate of Oman and enhance the Sultanate of Oman's readiness to keep pace with future opportunities in this field.
The project was led by His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said, Founder & CEO of NASCOM, who played a pivotal role in setting a clear vision for developing the space sector in the Sultanate of Oman, in line with Oman Vision 2040, which aims to enhance national capabilities by building local competencies and international partnerships that contribute to supporting the sector and establishing an infrastructure that supports its sustainability.
His Highness Sayyid Azzan also stressed during this historic event that since the beginning of work on the Duqm-1 mission, an emphasis has been on achieving tangible progress in the space sector, with a focus on developing scalable Omani capabilities and enhancing the Sultanate of Oman’s position as a reliable partner in regional and international projects, noting that the experiment represented an exceptional opportunity to qualify a new generation of Omani engineers and arouse the interest of young people in the fields of science and technology.
“This investment in building national capabilities lays the foundations for the sustainability of the space sector in the Sultanate of Oman and enhances Oman’s readiness to meet future challenges in this field,” he added.
Dr Subaih bin Rahman al Saadi, Academic Adviser for Space and Astronomy Sciences, explained that the morning of December 5 was an exceptional moment for the Sultanate of Oman in the field of technology and space. The experiment culminated in the successful launch of the first experimental rocket from the Sultanate of Oman’s territory, which dazzled the advanced world in this field.
Al Saadi also stressed that the Sultanate of Oman would become the focus of the world's attention in launching space rockets, given its strategic space location, due to its proximity to the equator, which reduces the cost of rockets reaching different orbits in the depths of space. Thus, our beloved Sultanate of Oman records the first step in its scientific, research and technical journey and the first step to establishing the first spaceport in the region to launch space rockets and satellites, meeting scientific and commercial research needs in the field of space launch and scientific and commercial investment locally and internationally.
Etlaq Spaceport, a project by the National Aerospace Services Company (NASCOM), seeks to explore new opportunities to launch additional missions in the coming years. Work is currently underway on the technical and logistical aspects, providing a permanent infrastructure for launches and ensuring the readiness of the technical and administrative teams to manage the launch operations efficiently to achieve the project’s goals in a sustainable manner.
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