The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to launch two communication satellites in 2013 and 2015, it was announced here today on the sidelines of the International Saudi Conference on Space and Aviation Technology 2012, currently being held in Riyadh. In a key paper at the conference titled 'Society and Space Knowledge: Saudi Arabia's National Plan on Science, Technology and Innovation', Prince Dr. Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed, Deputy President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) for Research Institutes Affairs, said the plan focuses on development of natural resources and research, citing water, environment, water desalination, use of solar energy technology, use of bio technology on genetic engineering research, camel genetic map, and electronic technologies sector. He said KACST shares distinguished relations with renowned research institutes in the U.S., UK, China, Russia, South Africa, India, Germany, and Switzerland in collaboration with a number of local universities, including King Saud University, King Abdulaziz University, King Abdullah University for Science and Technology and Ummal Qura University. Prince Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed vowed that Saudi Arabia has already launched 12 satellites, all proved properly working after undergoing numerous tests. He added that Saudi Arabia is planning to launch a number of satellites in the years to come, citing SAUDISAT4 which will be aired in September 2013, SAUDI GEO1 in 2015. Ascending the podium, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Subaiti, said the Ministry has established 14 space-science-related centers in the Kingdom. He pointed to the Kingdom's advance in an international classification in terms of international scientific Olympiad in mathematics and physics from the 70th rank out of 100 countries to the 29th. The session was attended by Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, and senior experts and scientists from different parts of the world.
