Doha, February 26 – Four engineers from Es hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, have recently completed a two-year intensive satellite training program with Space Systems/Loral (SSL), the company manufacturing Es hail 1. Es hail 1, the country s first satellite, is scheduled for launch in the summer of 2013 and will share a spacecraft platform with the European satellite operator Eutelsat. The prestigious Es hailSat training program facilitated by satellite manufacturer SSL, was set up to develop knowledgeable and sophisticated engineering staff to specify, oversee the manufacture of, launch and operate commercial communication satellites. Mohammed Al Delaimi, Thani Ali Al Malki, Ibrahim Abdulla Alhaj and Mohammed Al Sayed have been based at SSL s high-tech Palo Alto site in California rotating through skills development in various departments to enable them to follow the Es hail 1 satellite through design, manufacture, test and launch. At the Graduation Ceremony in Palo Alto, Es hailSat engineer Thani Ali Al Malki expressed his gratitude: ”I think this experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will affect me professionally and personally. Even though my degree covered satellite communications, there is still a gap between learning from books and the real environment of satellite design and test. It is a privilege to be part of the Es hail 1 satellite program and to develop my understanding of all aspects of the technical and commercial satellite industry”. Mohamed Al Delaimi said he was honored to represent Es hailSat at SSL in Palo Alto: “I believe our company has a huge potential to become a leader in the satellite industry in the Gulf region. Es hail 1 is an advanced communications satellite and has the necessary capacity to enable its customers to substantially increase their communications capability, particularly in broadcasting in HD and 3D”. “Es hailSat is providing the first satellite training program in the country, and we are proud to be part of this investment in local talent to become a world-class satellite operator and center of excellence in the Middle East region”, added Ibrahim Abdulla Alhaj and Mohammed Al Sayed. Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “I am delighted that these four engineers have completed our intensive satellite training program and we are now looking forward to the launch of Es hail 1- an SSL 1300 satellite – a decades-proven, modular platform with high power capability and flexibility for a broad range of applications”. David Bernstein, Senior Vice President, Program Management of SSL noted: ”On behalf of SSL I would like to congratulate the four Es’hailSat interns who have completed a rigorous and comprehensive internship program. All four show great promise in becoming future leaders in the satellite industry. They will serve Qatar well in advancing the country’s role as a provider of important communications services. We wish them the best in their future endeavors and look forward to working with them again.” Source:QatarChronicle

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar