Egypt launches National Center for Spatial Information Infrastructure carrying out space imaging

CAIRO – 22 August 2020: Egypt launched on Saturday the National Center for Spatial Information Infrastructure that carries out space imaging of the country through satellites to track the progress rate of national projects, construction violations, and distribution of services.

The center is affiliated to the Ministry of Planning, Follow-up, and Administrative Development.

Egypt will also launch in 2022 Misr-Sat 2 whose mission is imaging Egyptian soil to preserve the environment and undertaking remote sensing.

Head of the Team Developing Misr-Sat 2 Haitham Medhat stated in a TV interview in July that the work on the project began in 2019 but got delayed because of COVID-19 outbreak. Yet, cooperation with the Chinese side resumed.

Medhat revealed that the design was finished and that next year execution and manufacturing will start. The following year will be dedicated for experimental operation.  

Medhat highlighted that for the first time such an advanced satellite will be assembled in a country other than China, and that is Egypt.  

He clarified that China granted Egypt $45 million to produce the satellite in addition to another grant for space parts assembly, which makes the total $100 million.  

The satellite will be launched by China, and is designed to remain in space for five years.