Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has revealed the first space mission preparing to be launched in the Maldives has been named Azum.
HDC opened the opportunity on July 6 last year for the public to suggest names for the space mission relevant to the Maldives. HDC received 85 submissions and selected Azum, which was submitted by an individual named Saudulla Idrees. HDC said that the name is the most relevant name for such a project.
Institute for Global Success (IGS) launched the first-ever space programme in the Maldives in November 2020, in partnership with the KSF Space Foundation of the United Kingdom (UK). The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) declaring HDC as the main partner of the project was signed in February this year.
IGS said it is a very historic and important mission, adding the first target of the mission is to produce and test the first prototype satellite of the Maldives. The satellite is to be used to gather data on climate change and global warming. IGS said the mission is conducted to gather data on a matter which is directly affecting the Maldivian people, adding one main aim is to improve the brand image of Maldives and to prove that the Maldives also consists of youth who are capable.
The satellite is scheduled to be launched from Hulhumale' and the satellite data will then be collected and run entirely by a team of local youth. The KSF Space Foundation promotes space science and assists satellite launches. The organisation is made up of scientists and experts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX, the Space Exploration Technologies Corp.