Sharjah Sat-2 Final Testing Phase Commences During SAASST Visit To The Netherlands

A team from the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology at the University of Sharjah has started final qualification tests for the Sharjah Sat-2 CubeSat in the Netherlands, working with Innovative Solutions in Space. This stage prepares the satellite for a launch planned in the first quarter of 2026 and confirms that all systems operate together as designed.

Sharjah Sat-2 is equipped with a multispectral imaging camera for detailed Earth observation and natural resource studies. The payload can capture high-resolution images with spatial detail down to five metres. Authorities intend to use this data to support urban planning, environmental monitoring, natural resource management, and emergency or disaster response activities across Sharjah.

The CubeSat is being developed at the SAASST CubeSat Laboratory in cooperation with several national institutions. Project partners include Sharjah Municipality, the Department of Planning and Survey, and the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority. This collaboration links academic expertise with operational needs, ensuring the mission supports municipal planning, infrastructure management, and broader development strategies within the emirate.

During the Netherlands visit, the delegation travelled to the facilities of ISISPACE, which specialises in CubeSat development and integration. The mission team supervised the closing steps of assembly, integration, and testing, considered the most critical part before launch. Engineers checked how subsystems interact, confirmed power distribution and safety modes, and examined the performance of the on-board flight software.

Technical staff also ran environmental and functional tests to confirm Sharjah Sat-2 can withstand launch and space conditions. Communication systems were evaluated to secure dependable command reception from the ground station and efficient transmission of collected data. These verifications are required before clearing the satellite for placement on a launch vehicle during the 2026 launch window.

The visit included a detailed tour of ISISPACE’s specialised testing infrastructure, used to qualify CubeSats such as Sharjah Sat-2. The delegation observed the thermal vacuum chamber, which simulates the high vacuum and extreme temperature swings of orbit. Mechanical vibration rigs were also reviewed, as these reproduce rocket launch stresses and confirm that structural components and internal hardware remain stable.

Key test categories for Sharjah Sat-2 during this phase are shown below.

Near the end of the programme, the SAASST delegation joined technical and coordination meetings with ISISPACE system engineers. The team attended a workshop on IPC standards that guide manufacturing, assembly, and inspection of electronic systems. Quality assurance measures were reviewed, including inspection procedures, component acceptance rules, and documentation methods, which together indicate the mission is ready for its next development stage.

Data from Sharjah Sat-2 is expected to assist sustainable agriculture planning and coastal protection projects by tracking land use and shoreline change. The mission also aims to build national capacity in space technology, expand local scientific skills, and reinforce the UAE’s growing Earth observation activities, with Sharjah-based researchers and engineers playing central roles in operations and analysis.

With inputs from WAM