“The Saudi students will be able to conduct research programs on board US space stations, opening new horizons for them in space science,” the KACST said in a statement, adding that the students would work under the supervision of its experts.
The national research institute said students would design and develop their scientific research projects using CubeSat, a miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a volume of exactly one liter and a mass of no more than 1.33 kg.
Beginning in 1999, California Polytechnic State University and Stanford University developed the CubeSat specifications to help universities worldwide to perform space science and exploration. It has since grown to become an international partnership of over 40 institutes that are developing picosatellites containing scientific payloads.
“This partnership project between KACST and the Education Ministry aims at transforming the Kingdom into a knowledge economy,” the statement said. The project will contribute to boosting the Kingdom’s industrial competitiveness by improving efficiency of the Saudi manpower and developing innovative skills of Saudi students.
“It also aims at producing a new generation of Saudi scientists, especially in the area of space science and technology,” it added.
KACST signed an agreement with Nanorex, a leading player in space research, to carry out a scientific program for Saudi students. Nanorex would provide all its commercial facilities for Saudi students to conduct research projects in biopharmacology, material science, nanotechnology and other areas.
KACST has already launched 12 satellites from Baikonur space station in Kazakhstan for communication and other purposes. It aims to make Saudi Arabia a leading supplier of earth monitoring products from the space, interactive maps and strengthen satellite capabilities. It has a full-fledged system to receive and analyze space photos.
The KACST program aims to integrate Saudi students into an essential field, and reveal their skills and creativity, thus enhancing their future attitudes toward knowledge and important sciences that the Kingdom industriously seeks to inseminate in its young generation.
The program enables Saudi students to make use of the facilities of Nanorex Incorporation in nanolab research in order to conduct researches in various fields. Nanorex was selected by KACST after the incorporation signed an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 2009.
