Orbitworks, Loft Orbital to Launch Satellite from Middle East
UAE-based venture, Orbitworks, will manufacture up to 50 satellites annually to push domestic production capabilities for the UAE satellite. UAE-based venture, Orbitworks, will manufacture up to 50 satellites annually to push domestic production capabilities for the UAE satellite.
In partnership with Marlan Space and San Francisco startup Loft Orbital, Orbitworks plans to establish a new facility that will use advanced hardware, software, and industrial technologies for satellite construction and testing.
The facility will help the company reach its production targets, with the first satellite platform expected to be assembled, integrated, and tested by early 2025. Components of the first 10 satellites have already been secured.
Local Partnerships, Technological Integration
The joint venture also focuses on partnerships with local component manufacturers and technology providers within the UAE.
Leveraging Loft Orbital’s solutions, Orbitworks wants to simplify the technological incorporation across multiple satellite operations. By collaborating with both Loft Orbital and Marlan Space, Orbitworks will facilitate the development of Low Earth (LEO) satellite from the UAE, further contributing to the growing space industry in the country.
Orbitworks plans to play a key role in the UAE’s space ecosystem, including Space42, EDGE Group, and research institutions such as the National Space and Science Technology Center (NSSTC), focused on bringing satellite manufacturing in-house and reduce the reliance on external sources.
In a relatively short time, the UAE has developed one of the most advanced AI ecosystems, and Orbitworks plans to collaborate with AI developers and universities, further pushing these capabilities. The venture will serve as a medium for these firms to utilize their software in outer space, bringing completion to AI and space.
Loft Orbital CEO, Pierre-Damien Vaujour, commented on the importance of the venture, saying that the company has “long believed in the dynamism and growth of the UAE’s space sector, and we are proud to be part of the country’s journey to becoming a space powerhouse. From the moment we first met with Marlan Space, we were excited about their vision for scaled production and operations of LEO satellite constellations in the UAE. We are thrilled to support and partner with all players in the country’s space, satellite, cloud, and AI industries.”
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