Emirates SkyCargo has completed the air transport of Altair-1, the UAE’s first commercial artificial intelligence-enabled Earth observation satellite. The satellite was flown on a Boeing 777 freighter from Dubai World Central (DWC) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) ahead of its scheduled orbital launch.
First of Ten Satellites in the Altair Constellation
Developed and manufactured locally by Abu Dhabi-based Orbitworks, Altair-1 is the initial unit of a planned 10-satellite Earth observation constellation.
The satellite system combines advanced hardware and onboard processing capabilities:
- Multi-Sensor Payloads: Equipped with optical, thermal, infrared, and radio frequency (RF) sensing arrays.
- Onboard Processing: Integrates edge AI processing to analyze data directly in orbit.
- Mission Applications: Designed to provide actionable intelligence for environmental monitoring, maritime domain awareness, disaster response, infrastructure assessment, and land-use analysis.
Specialized Aerospace Logistics Execution
Handled under Emirates SkyCargo’s specialized Aerospace and Engineering vertical, the shipment required strict climate controls and safety protocols during transit.
Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President at Emirates SkyCargo, stated that precision transport of sensitive technology reinforces the UAE’s role as an international hub for advanced logistics and space innovation.
Schahan Sediqi, General Manager of Orbitworks, praised the partnership with Emirates SkyCargo for safely delivering the satellite to Los Angeles ahead of its launch.
Expanding Global Aerospace Fleet and Capabilities
The movement of Altair-1 follows previous high-profile aerospace missions handled by the carrier, including the transport of Arab Satellite 813 to China and Khalifasat to South Korea. Emirates SkyCargo has moved over 6,000 tonnes of aerospace and advanced engineering cargo globally.
To support growing demand across its specialized maindeck cargo verticals, Emirates SkyCargo has expanded its freighter fleet. The carrier has taken delivery of six Boeing 777-F production freighters and one Boeing 777-300ERSF converted freighter, with five additional units scheduled for delivery later in the year. The additions expand its scheduled freighter coverage to over 60 international destinations.
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