Scientists and engineers from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and DSO National Laboratories (above)- Singapore's national defence research outfit - are putting the finishing touches on the satellite. -- PHOTO: NEWPAPER
SINGAPORE is ready to head to space with the country's first satellite built from scratch here.
The Straits Times understands that the X-Sat, a micro-satellite about the size of a refrigerator, will be launched in June or July from India's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh, 100km north of Chennai.
With the launch of the 120kg satellite, Singapore is believed to be the first Southeast Asian country that will have its own locally built satellite in space.
Scientists and engineers from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and DSO National Laboratories - Singapore's national defence research outfit - are putting the finishing touches on the X-Sat.
Work began as early as nine years ago, with a reported plan to launch it in 2007. That deadline came and went without any launches, but no reasons were given for the delay.
The Defence Ministry's permanent secretary for defence development, Dr Tan Kim Siew, revealed at a scholarship tea session earlier this month, that the satellite 'will be launched later this year'. Dr Tan is also chairman of the Defence Science and Technology Agency and DSO.
