Orbital Space has confirmed the successful launch of QMR-KWT 2, marking the second mission in the QMR-KWT satellite programme and continuing one of the region’s longest-running student-focused space initiatives. The satellite was launched on December 28, 2025, aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Following launch, QMR-KWT 2 was successfully deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 515 km and an inclination of 97.55 degrees, formally initiating mission operations. The timing of the launch aligns with the January 2026 celebrations of UAE–Kuwait relations, underscoring the collaborative foundation of the programme and the close partnership between the two countries in advancing education-led space projects.
QMR-KWT 2 builds on the achievements of QMR-KWT 1, which was launched in 2021 as Kuwait’s first education-oriented CubeSat mission. That earlier project provided students with hands-on exposure to satellite development and operations, laying the groundwork for the expanded capabilities of the second mission. While maintaining its strong focus on student engagement, QMR-KWT 2 introduces enhanced technical features to broaden learning opportunities.
As a follow-on mission, QMR-KWT 2 significantly increases student access to live satellite operations and space-based communications. Participants are able to track the satellite during overhead passes, receive Earth imagery transmitted from orbit, send and relay messages through the spacecraft, and access real-time telemetry data via an open mission platform. This allows students to interact directly with an operational satellite and gain practical experience within an active mission environment.
Bassam Alfeeli, founder and general manager of Orbital Space, said: “QMR-KWT 2 reflects our commitment to continuity, learning, and long-term capability development. The first QMR-KWT mission demonstrated the value of using space as an educational platform. With this second mission, we are expanding that experience and providing students with deeper technical exposure to real space systems.”
The QMR-KWT initiative forms part of Orbital Space’s broader strategy to make space more accessible through cost-effective, student-centric satellite missions developed in partnership with academic institutions and international collaborators. Insights gained from the first mission were incorporated into the design and execution of QMR-KWT 2, enhancing both its technical performance and its educational impact.
The successful deployment of QMR-KWT 2 highlights the growing contribution of regional space startups to talent development, cross-border collaboration and long-term capacity building within the global space sector.
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