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Zawya
21-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Omani spaceport Etlaq announces 5 rocket launches in 2025
MUSCAT: Etlaq, the first spaceport in Oman and the MENA region, is targeting five experimental launches in 2025. Speaking at a press conference in Muscat on February 20, 2025, Julanda al Riyami, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), announced the company's 2025 plans. 'We're excited to unveil five missions this year, featuring international collaborations with partners from the UK, New Zealand, and Kuwait. As a spaceport, Duqm-1 was about learning how to operate and execute missions. However, 2025 will be focused on a different type of test—we'll be learning how to conduct launches repeatedly. The goal is to establish a cadence, enabling multiple planned launches in parallel. This will help us achieve an ideal rate of 10, 20, or even 30+ launches per year.' According to the CCO, the purpose of the launches will vary. While some launches are designed to test landing systems, others will focus on other aspects such as on stage separation or fuel efficiency. The first rocket launch, UNITY-1, is expected to take place in April, which will be facilitated by UK based launch company Advanced Propulsion Technologies. This will be followed by the launch of the Duqm-2 rocket in June, which will be facilitated by New Zealand-based Stellar Kinetics in partnership with Etlaq's parent company, NASCOM. The Duqm-2 rocket, while part of the company's programme, will use a different launch vehicle, Al Riyami said. A more complex launch, utilising different parameters and operational procedures, is scheduled for October for rocket Duqm-3. The fourth rocket scheduled for launch in November is Kuwait Space Rocket's Ambition-3, emphasising the significance of regional collaboration within the sector. The final launch, expected to take place in December, is for Duqm-3, which according to the CCO, will have different parameters compared to the previous rockets. Etlaq's 2025 launch schedule is part of the company's newly announced rocket launching experimental programme – Genesis - which aims to develop Oman's space launch culture before full-scale commercial operations in 2027. Earlier, in his keynote address, Etlaq CEO His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said, shared the following about the programme, 'The Genesis Programme was launched in 2024 as a proof of concept. At this stage, the programme is laying the foundation for what we call a national space launch heritage. We believe that having such a heritage is a fundamental prerequisite for commercial spaceport operations, which we plan to begin in 2027.' He added, 'The programme is designed to break down the essential elements of planning and conducting rocket launches. From now until 2027, our goal is to host as many launches as possible—within safety and feasibility limits—using multiple launch companies operating suborbital and experimental launch vehicles. This means that every launch we announce today will be conducted under the Genesis Programme, contributing to capacity building and the development of a sustainable launch heritage.' A number of agreements were also signed at the briefing. International space services company PLD Space singed an agreement to use Etlaq as the second global launch base for the Miura launch vehicle family. An MOU was also inked with satellite solutions provider SatMENA to collaborate on ground station services and operational support for upcoming launches. Additionally, Etlaq's parent company NASCOM signed an agreement the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) granting the company Qualified Entity status for the building and operation of spaceports in the country. First announced in 2023, the Etlaq spaceport, located in Duqm, successfully launched its first experimental rocket in December of 2024. The spaceport is expected to be fully operational by 2027. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The National
20-02-2025
- Business
- The National
Oman set to launch five rockets from new spaceport in 2025 with fan zone to open to public
Oman is planning to launch five rockets from its developing spaceport this year – starting in April – with a fan zone to be opened in the coming months to allow the public to witness the series of landmark lift-offs. The Etlaq spaceport, which has been in the works since 2023, is in southern Duqm and is set to have three launch complexes where vehicles of various sizes will blast off into the skies. The announcement of the fan zone, which is expected to be introduced this summer and will be free of charge, was made at the Etlaq conference in Muscat on Thursday. The timeline of the launches for this year was also unveiled. Zainab Alsalhi, business development manager for Etlaq, said that a registration portal for those interested in attending the launch will soon be made available on the company's website and promoted on their social media platforms. 'I'm happy to introduce one of the best experiences at the launch event – the fan zone. Most of you have been dreaming of watching the moment of launch and that's why we've created this opportunity,' she said. It is not yet clear how far the fan zone will be from the launch site, but binoculars will be provided for an enhanced view. There will also be a live launch feed so the public can join the countdown to lift-off. The ticket will be valid for the launch window in case lift-off is postponed because of weather or technical issues. The site has already hosted its first launch in December, when an experimental vehicle soared 140km above sea level, crossing the Karman line, recognised as the boundary of space, at speeds of 1,530m/s. This was called the Duqm-1 mission, and the upcoming ones will be the Unity-1 mission in late April, Duqm-2 is expected in late June, Duqm-3 in October, Ambition-3 in November, and Duqm-4 in December. The spaceport is giving an opportunity to start-up launch companies to test their high-altitude and suborbital rockets, including the Kuwait Space Rockets organisation, which will launch the Ambition-3 vehicle 15km above sea level. The multiple space launches and fan zone are part of Etlaq's Genesis Programme, which was launched on Thursday as a stepping stone for the start of the spaceport's commercial operations in 2027. 'We believe such a heritage is a fundamental prerequisite to have before commercial spaceport operations in 2027,' said Azzan Al Said, chairman of the National Aerospace Services Company (Nascom) – the company overseeing the Etlaq project. 'The programme is designed to break down the absolute essential elements of planning and conducting rocket launches. 'To achieve this, from this year up until 2027, the programme will host as many launches as reasonably and safely as possible, with multiple launch companies operating suborbital and experimental launch vehicles.' As the global space industry expands, more countries are developing spaceports to accommodate a growing demand for satellite launches, suborbital tourism and scientific missions. In the UK, several new spaceports are under development, including Spaceport Cornwall, which has already hosted its first launch attempt, and upcoming vertical launch sites in Scotland, such as SaxaVord Spaceport and Sutherland Spaceport. These facilities are positioning the UK as a key player in European small satellite launches. Oman's spaceport could similarly create new opportunities for neighbouring Arab nations looking to expand their presence in the space sector. Mr Al Said said that the spaceport is being developed to meet US Federal Aviation Administration standards to attract international launch companies. 'The launcher can be by any company, as long as they are a suborbital or experimental launch company from a non-US sanctioned country, and that makes it easier for us to trust who we're doing business with, and also they'll be operating on the same safety standards that we are promoting,' he said. While Oman will host traditional vertical launch pads, the UAE is looking to host horizontal ones. Radian Aerospace is developing a horizontal take-off and landing, single-stage, fully reusable spaceplane called Radian One. A prototype is being tested at a small airfield in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is looking to enter the space tourism market by hosting high-altitude balloon flights, with companies like Halo Space planning to offer near-space experiences from the kingdom.
