Omani company Etco Space launched its first satellite, the Aman-1 in November 2023. The satellite has captured its first images of Sohar Port and a mountainous range of the Western Hajar Mountains from Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The satellite set off aboard Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on 11 November 2023 from the Space Launch Complex 4E in Vandenberg, California, USA.
This development comes amidst Oman’s plans to develop Middle East’s first spaceport by 2030, which will be among the largest and most advanced in the world.
Named Etlaq – which means “launch” in Arabic – the spaceport will be able to host all sizes of launch vehicles in the port town of Duqm. It would meet US Federal Aviation Administration standards to attract international launch companies.
The Middle East is looking towards the space sector to diversify the economy, build indigenous capacity, and compete with the heavyweights in space worldwide. The region is currently witnessing an outpour of FDIs, government contracts, and a vibrant startup scene.
The current economic value of the region’s space sector is around $25 billion and is set to grow threefold by 2032, according to a report by Euroconsult.
