KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY (KACST) HAS ANNOUNCED LAUNCHING SIX SAUDI SATELLITES AND SUCCESSFULLY SETTING THEM ON THEIR ORBITS BY USING A RUSSIAN-UKRAINE MISSILE FROM BIKANOR BASE IN KAZAKHSTAN. DR TURKI BIN SAUD BIN MOHAMMED AL-SAUD, THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF KACST FOR THE RESEARCH INSTITUTES, SAID THE LAUNCHING OF THE SATELLITES CONSTITUTES AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT. PRINCE TURKI NOTED THAT A SAUDI TEAM WORKING AT THE INSTITUTE OF SPACE RESEARCH AT KACST HAD UNDERTAKEN THE PREPARATION AND TESTING OF THE SATELLITES AND ALL REQUITED WORK IN THIS RESPECT. PRINCE TURKI POINTED OUT THAT THE LAUNCHING OPERATION WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 27, 2007, BUT IT WAS POSTPONED FOR TECHNICAL REASONS. PRINCE TURKI SAID SAUDI ARABIA HAS FOR THE TIME BEING 12 SATELLITES IN THE SPACE.
