Neel Mehta
Orbital ATK will collaborate with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, satellite communications firm Yahsat and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency to form a new academic program focused on space technology.
Masdar Institute will start to accept graduate students in UAE for the master’s degree program by January 2016 under the memorandum of understanding, Orbital ATK said Tuesday.
The course will require students to design, build and test a small-scale satellite used in space research dubbed CubeSat.
David Thompson, president and CEO at Orbital ATK, said the company will work to further develop the curriculum and allow students to use its testing facility to validate their CubeSat design before launch.
Dr. Ahmad Belhoul, CEO of Masdar Institute, said the academic program will help create a talent pool of engineers and experts in defense, satellite and aerospace fields.
