MalaysiaGIS.com

The satellite needed to be calibrated first before it could start taking images from space, said Science, Technology and Inno-vation Deputy Minister Fadilah Yusof.

“The solar panels need to be in place before it can activate the components of the satellite. The camera also needs to be fine-tuned,” he said at a press conference after closing the National Rocket Launch Contest at Universiti Malaya yesterday.

Fadilah said countries in South-East Asia, African continent and South America had shown interest in using the imaging services of RazakSAT.

When asked about the financial gains from offering the imaging services, he replied it was not solely about the money.

“It’s about building our human capacity. Local engineers were involved in the construction of the satellite.

“RazakSAT used mainly local components except the camera parts. We need to develop our human capital and we can do so via projects such as these,” he said.

He said the images taken from RazakSAT could be used for profiling, town planning and meteorology purposes.

It could also be used to help fishermen identify fishing areas and help countries keep close watch for border security.

RazakSat, the world’s first satellite to operate in near-equatorial orbit, is a 10-year programme costing US$40mil (RM150mil).

The satellite is a continuation of the TiungSAT-1 programme launched in 2000.

RazakSat was carried into space onboard a rocket from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean’s Marshall Islands on July 14.

Source: The Star