Muscat: Oman has an optimal position for space vehicle launches, with its proximity to the equator reducing fuel consumption for spacecraft launched in conjunction with Earth's rotation. Oman's coastal launch sites, which overlook the Indian Ocean and are far from populated areas, have attracted international space firms looking for ideal launch locations.
HH Sayyid Azzan Qais Al Said, Founder and CEO of the National Aerospace Services Company NASCOM and Etlaq Spaceport, announced that Etlaq pioneered the first Middle Eastern space launch, Duqm1, marking Oman's first step toward becoming a global space access hub. The 18-degree latitude spaceport supports multiorbit launches to equatorial, sun-synchronous, polar, medium Earth, and geostationary orbits.
HH Sayyid Azzan announced that Etlaq's master plan will be implemented by 2027, with its Formation Program allowing experimental launches within 14 weeks of planning starting in 2024. The program aims to develop the Omani workforce in advanced space skills, with ongoing expansions including a second launch pad for experimental missions and a spacecraft assembly facility.
Dr. Saud Hamid Al Shukaili, Director General of Policies & Governance and Head of the National Space Program at the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, stated that Oman's space launch initiative intends to attract global space investments while developing national capabilities in spacecraft engineering, in line with Oman Vision 2040.
