With the smooth launch of the MisrSat-2 satellite, China and Egypt have made a big step forward in their efforts to work together.

This is a big step forward in their growing space relationship because it was designed and put together by both countries. The Long March-2C transport rocket took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China carrying the satellite. It was put together in Egypt with help from China.

China, Egypt Jointly Launch Satellite MisrSat-2 (2) (1)

Background and Working Together on a Joint Project

• The Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) and the China National Space Administration made a deal in 2019 to work together on the MisrSat-2 project, which is worth $72 million.
• Scientists and engineers from China and Egypt worked together on this new project, helping with the planning, building, and testing stages.
• Egypt became the first African country to be able to test and put together satellites thanks to this project.

Details about the technology and the payload

The optical remote-sensing satellite MisrSat-2 has a high-resolution camera that can take clear pictures of Egypt’s water and soil supplies.
The satellite will focus on certain bands to track climate change, desertification, and land degradation. Its precision is 6.5 feet per pixel in panchromatic mode and 26.2 feet per pixel for multispectral images.

Applications and Goals of the Mission

• The satellite’s main job is to help Egypt reach its long-term goals for sustainable growth in areas like mining, agriculture, water management, and protecting the environment.
• MisrSat-2 will likely be very important for keeping an eye on and dealing with climate-related problems. It will also show how the satellite business has become more localized in Egypt.

Effects on diplomacy and the economy

• It shows that Egypt and China are getting closer, especially in the areas of science and space. The partnership is also part of a larger trend of growing trade and business ties.
• China is now one of Egypt’s biggest trading partners and investors. The two countries have signed many important deals about infrastructure, energy, transportation, education, and culture.

Getting closer and working together on projects

• Besides their business relationship, the two countries have helped each other in many other areas and have faced problems together, such as when they worked together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The launch of the satellite shows that China and Egypt are working together in many areas, which is good for science and technology.