Second national satellite in 2015

Malaysia is poised to have another remote sensing satellite to monitor the earth's surface when RazakSAT-2 is scheduled for launch in 2015.

National Space Agency director-general Dr Mustafa Din Subari said the RazakSAT-2 development programme commenced early this year, and was expected to take two years.

"RazakSAT-2 will be ready by the end of 2014 or early 2015, and it is a remote sensing satellite which could provide high resolution images for satellite image users in the country and abroad," he said.

Met at the National Planetarium's 19th anniversary celebration here today, he said RazakSAT-2 was being developed by Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd (ATSB), a local pioneer company in satellite development.

ATSB is also the company which developed the first national mirco satellite, RazakSAT which was launched, about four years ago.

Mustafa said RazakSAT-2 was a continuation of the RazakSAT satellite programme which was launched on July 14, 2009, with upgraded capabilities in terms of its software and satellite equipment.