SHAH ALAM: Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) made history by launching its second nanosatellite, UiTMSat-2, to the International Space Station (ISS) via the HTV-X1 mission, which lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.
The Sunday morning launch, broadcast live by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa), marked a milestone moment for Malaysia and Asean as UiTM leads the first regional satellite mission developed under the Aseansat initiative.
According to UiTM, the HTV-X1 vehicle is expected to dock with the ISS within 48 to 72 hours before UiTMSat-2 deploys into low Earth orbit in early 2026.
It is the first nanosatellite designed and developed by an Asean university, positioning UiTM as a regional leader in space technology and scientific diplomacy.
“UiTMSat-2 builds upon the success of UiTMSat-1, launched in 2018. While the first mission positioned Malaysia as a global participant in nanosatellite research, this second mission positions UiTM as a key designer and leader in international space projects,” said UiTM in a statement, Bernama reported.
The mission’s main objectives include earth observation and space-based IoT applications for smart agriculture and disaster management; a Store-and-Forward system to transmit sensor data from remote areas; and regional capacity building to train ASEAN students and researchers in space technology.
Lead adviser of the project, Prof Ir Dr Mohamad Huzaimy Jusoh, said UiTM has now achieved full maturity in satellite system design, in line with its aspiration to become the leader in Asean space technology by 2030.
