A new Egyptian satellite is scheduled to launch from Russian-owned Baiknour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, reported Al-Ahram's Arabic news website.
According to government spokesman Hossam El-Qawish, the new satellite EgySat aims to support Egypt's "presence in space" and to increase new investment opportunities and enhance developmental project in the Arab region.
The launch is also being used to establish the presence of Egyptian scientists and researchers in outer space, he added during a press conference held at the cabinet's headquarters in Cairo.
Medhat Mokhtar, head of National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science, said that pictures of the satellite were supposed to have been revealed three years ago, but that the plan was halted, "given what the country is going through".
"Pictures of the satellite will be available soon," Mokhtar added.
Egypt's first satellite was launched in 2007 from the Baikonour. However, it has been lost since 2010.
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