Azum space mission tests out the first satellite

The news of the possibility of a space mission started out in 2021 following an exciting announcement by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), stating that preparations were underway for the first-ever space mission to take place in the Maldives. By July 2021, HDC opened up the opportunity for the citizens of Maldives to take part in this exciting new development by participating in suggesting a suitable name for the space mission. 

85 submissions and a lot of evaluations later, the name 'Azum' was chosen, as it felt the most fitting for a bold and innovative mission such as this one. 

One of the first aims of this ambitious and historic space mission in the Maldives which was being carried out in partnership with the KSF Space Foundation of the United Kingdom (UK) was to produce and test the first satellite prototype of the Maldives. 

This satellite would help the young team of scientists gather data on the Maldives that would be helpful in making changes for the betterment of the future as well as the livelihood of Maldivians.

And just a little over two years later, the team of Maldivian engineers who are partaking in this science mission have designed and tested the first ever satellite of the Maldives. The young ambitious team was fully Maldivian and was led by Aerospace engineer Hussain Assad, electrical and electronics engineer Mohamed Junaid and mechanical engineer Ahmed Ijaz Abdulla.

 While the team managed to complete the design of this project by November 2022, the satellite was tested out on February 22, 2023, marking a great milestone for the Maldives.