- Oman selects innovative space companies Virgin Orbit,
SatRevolution, TUATARA and ETCO as mission partners to launch the
sultanate’s first satellites to Low Earth Orbit
- The first satellite is scheduled to launch from the UK’s
spaceport Cornwall in 2022
- The Oman mission to deep space will be targeted for launch as
early as Q3 2024
The Sultanate of Oman, leading US-based launch company Virgin
Orbit, Polish Small Satellite manufacturer and operator
SatRevolution, Poland-originated AI data analytics specialists
TUATARA, and Omani-based emerging technology innovator ETCO, have
together signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration on
Oman’s first mission to deep space. The same agreement also lays
the foundation for the consortium to collaborate on delivering
additional small satellites to Low Earth Orbit, including the first
in Oman’s history.
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As part of the historic deep space mission, the group plans to
launch a satellite designed by SatRevolution aboard a Virgin Orbit
rocket, sending it to deep space with the mission of conducting
cutting-edge scientific research and capturing high-resolution
imagery. All collected data and images, both from the Low Earth
Orbit and deep space missions, will be further analyzed digitally
using computer vision, machine learning, and AI solutions developed
by TUATARA in strategic partnership with ETCO. This mission will
collect valuable data regarding the hidden patterns that underlie
climate change, and the aftereffects of natural disasters. In
addition, it could provide scientists with essential information
needed to understand what occurs on the surface of Earth’s
neighbors.
The final mission parameters and scientific objectives will be
determined in a study conducted by the parties to the mission, and
thereafter the parties expect to sign a definitive binding
agreement to conduct the mission. The mission is the follow-on to
the Memorandum of Understanding signed during International
Astronautical Congress held in October 2021 in Dubai, which
established the cooperation of the Parties to design, manufacture
and launch the first Omani satellite, manufactured by SatRevolution
and onboard Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne, on the first ever launch
from the United Kingdom out of Spaceport Cornwall in 2022. The
launch from Cornwall and subsequent missions to deep space will be
enabled through Virgin Orbit’s versatile air launched system. The
Cornwall mission providing the first Oman Satellite in Space sets
the foundation for allowing previously non-space faring nations the
ability to launch satellites from their own soil, which is a key
element of the Oman strategy for Space.
As an emerging space-faring nation with plans to launch small
satellites into Low Earth Orbit and foster a local, sustainable
space ecosystem and industrial base, the Sultanate of Oman further
plans on expanding its ambitious space endeavors and engaging the
Omani public and students through STEM activities.
Both missions are in line with the Royal Directives of His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and will directly correspond with
the “Oman Vision 2040”, being part of a broader educational
outreach initiative with the goal of stimulating long-term growth
in the sector. The activities specified in the Agreements are
intended to generate and seize opportunities to foster economic
competitiveness and social well-being, stimulate growth, and build
confidence in economic, social, and developmental relations
nationwide.
“Only a few nations have been bold enough to venture into deep
space, but with Oman’s strong vision supported by cutting edge
launch and spacecraft technology another spacefaring nation is
about to join those ranks,” said Virgin Orbit’s CEO Dan Hart. “We
are proud to have been entrusted by the Sultanate of Oman as their
exclusive launch partner in helping to fulfill the goals of
bringing sustainable space solutions to Oman. Beginning with the
launch of the first Omani satellites out of the first UK launch
this year, the progression has been set for a myriad of space
missions to expand technology, science and exploration.”
“Both projects will contribute to the near-term goals of the
Sultanate of Oman which include the modernization of the
educational ecosystem, growth in the support of scientific research
and innovation, enhancement of the in-house development of
cutting-edge technologies, which will shape the world in the
twenty-first century.” SatRevolution’s CEO Grzegorz Zwolinski
said
“The future of the Sultanate of Oman is one of innovation, and
it’s through partnerships with pioneering organizations like Virgin
Orbit that we will make active contributions to those sectors and
technologies that are driving progress on a global scale,” Tariq Al
Belushi, ETCO Vice President said. “This partnership is a major
step in helping us to enrich the Sultanate’s Space industry with
the latest technologies and know-how, while adding overall economic
value according to Oman’s 2040 Vision.”
“Our mission is to deliver enchanting experiences in the digital
space and we are thrilled we were invited to help translate outer
space data into digital. We believe that the Oman project will not
only be providing vital scientific data and boosting the growth of
STEM industry in the Sultanate but will also inspire the world in
the further democratization of the space research.” TUATARA’s Chief
Innovation Officer Krzysztof Goworek concluded.
In recognition of great importance of the Agreement to the
Sultanate of Oman, his excellency Dr. Ali Al Shidani –
Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology at the
Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology,
Sultanate of Oman witnessed the signing of this MOU by the Parties
at a signing ceremony in Muscat.
ABOUT VIRGIN ORBIT
Virgin Orbit (Nasdaq: VORB) operates one of the most flexible
and responsive space launch systems ever built. Founded by Sir
Richard Branson in 2017, the company began commercial service in
2021, and has already delivered commercial, civil, national
security, and international satellites into orbit. Virgin Orbit’s
LauncherOne rockets are designed and manufactured in Long Beach,
California, and are air-launched from a modified 747- 400 carrier
aircraft that allows Virgin Orbit to operate from locations all
over the world in order to best serve each customer’s needs. Learn
more at www.virginorbit.com and visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter
@virginorbit, and on Instagram @virgin.orbit.
ABOUT SATREVOLUTION
SatRevolution was founded in Poland in 2016 to focus on the
emerging space market. With a vertically-integrated business, the
company specializes in the design, manufacture and operation of
satellites as well as data analytics and is building a real-time
Earth Observation constellation. Its goal is to become the largest
worldwide operator of EO satellites, delivering 1,024
nanosatellites into Low Earth Orbit by 2026 to provide
round-the-clock Earth Observation. In October 2019, the company
established a consortium with Virgin Orbit and nearly a dozen
Polish universities to design and carry out the world’s first
dedicated commercial small satellite mission to Mars. In June 2021,
SatRevolution placed two-satellites, STORK-4 and STORK-5 Marta,
into Low Earth Orbit with the launches of STORK-3 and SteamSat-2
scheduled for December 2021. The company also plans to launch
CubeSat, its first Omani nanosatellite by end 2022. SatRev’s
satellites can be used to solve the challenges of resource
utilisation and optimisation across a wide range of issues
including precision agriculture, precision agriculture energy
assets monitoring defence & intelligence logistics &
transportation infrastructure monitoring. Current investors include
Polish VC funds such as Infini, Newberg, Tech Invest Group and
Kvarko (part of the Polish NCBiR R&D scientific start-up
funding programme). To learn more, visit satrevolution.com.
ABOUT TUATARA
TUATARA combines consulting and technology to create enchanting
experiences in the digital space. From process digitalization
through data analysis to innovative business models, TUATARA
exceeds customers' expectations with artful solutions based on
artificial intelligence, machine learning and cognitive
technologies. TUATARA has been delivering groundbreaking projects
in the telecommunications, financial and marketing industries in
Oman and other GCC countries since 2015.
Learn more at https://tuatara.pl.
ABOUT ETCO
Driven by a forward-thinking approach, ETCO has developed a
portfolio of successful partnerships in line with Oman's
digitization strategy for 2040. With a range of compelling
solutions, products and world-class customer service, the company
is helping to support the Sultanate’s development, while cementing
its position as an integrated technology partner.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These
forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words
“believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,”
“strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,”
“will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,”
and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are
predictions, projections and other statements about future events
that are based on current expectations and assumptions regarding
the non-binding Memorandum of Understanding, the expected benefits
of the missions in the non-binding Memorandum of Understanding and
the expected timing of completion of the missions and, as a result,
are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause
actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements in this press release. Forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put
undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Virgin Orbit
assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise. Virgin Orbit gives no assurance that
it, or the missions in the non-binding Memorandum of Understanding,
will achieve its expectations.
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