Manama: Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Highness Major General Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa witnessed the launch of Bahrain's first satellite, "Al Munther." The event was attended by His Highness Colonel Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and other senior officials.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the launch ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam; Chairman of the Shura Council, Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh; Royal Court Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa; Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force, Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa; Deputy Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa; Minister of Interior, Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa; Minister of Finance and National Economy, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa; Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa; and Minister of Education, Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma.
The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA, using SpaceX's "Falcon 9" rocket. "Al Munther" is the first Bahraini satellite designed and developed in the Kingdom, aiming to enhance national space capabilities. It carries four payloads designed by Bahraini space engineers, marking a significant step in Bahrain's technological advancement in the space sector.
His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa congratulated His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, highlighting that it aligns with the royal vision to support innovation and scientific excellence. His Highness praised the efforts of all national entities involved in the project and emphasised that the collective efforts reflect Bahrain's commitment to developing its space sector capabilities and investing in qualified national competencies to achieve further successes in this field.