What Is the First Saudi Satellite Launched into Space?

The satellites "SaudiSat 1A" and "SaudiSat 1B" were the first satellites launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2000 to receive, store, and transmit data to ground stations. These were followed by the launch of sixteen satellites up until 2021, including SaudiSat 1C, SaudiSat 2, SaudiComSat 1 and SaudiComSat 2, SaudiSat 3, the data relay satellite system (SaudiComSat 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), SaudiSat 4, the moon exploration mission Chang'e 4, SaudiSat 5A and SaudiSat 5B, and the Saudi Communications Satellite SGS1. In 2021, the Saudi satellite Shaheen Sat was launched, followed by the launch of the 6U satellite in 2023. This small CubeSat was designed to collect high-quality and precise data on terrestrial, coastal, and oceanic ecosystems worldwide.

In 2024, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) established Neo Space Group (NSG), a wholly-owned national company specializing in the space sector and satellite services. The company aims to stimulate satellite and space services in the Kingdom and develop capabilities that enhance the local sector's position in this field.