The UiTMSAT-1 was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) via cargo rocket Space X Falcon 9 which was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 5.47pm local time.

The cube-shaped nano-satellite measuring 10cm was built by UiTM students Syazana Basyirah Mohamad Zaki and Muhammad Hasif Azami, who are currently studying in Japan. It followed a collaborative effort with the Kyushu Institute of Technology under the Joint Global Multi-Nation programme.

The launching of UiTMSAT-1, screened via an ISS live feed on YouTube, was witnessed by UiTM vice-chancellor Hassan Said, the director of the university’s Centre for Satellite Communication Mohamad Huzaimy Jusoh as well as lecturers and students.

Hassan said the nano-satellite would be temporarily kept at ISS and was expected to be released into its orbit, about 400,000km from earth, in August.

Mohamad Huzaimy said the nano-satellite had six missions, including to capture images, test the satellite location correlation and the Global Positioning System chip, and measure the magnetic field in outer space to obtain data on geomagnetic mapping in Southeast Asia. It will also be used for radio communication.