12/27/2004 3:00:00 PM GMT
Source: Khaleej Times
The first Islamic satellite will be launched in 2006, according to Dr. Omar Al Khateeb, chief of the Research and Fatwa Section, who was the UAE representative at the Satellite committee meeting held in Cairo on December 21.
Dr. Al Khateeb also said that the satellite will go into orbit in 15 months’ time and is expected to be used in sighting the crescent. He added that the project was proposed by Dar Al Ifta in Egypt in 1997.
“The satellite is expected to present a solution to the problem resulted from the differences over the lunar months — a fact which prompted Arab and Muslim countries to support the project,” Al Khateeb said.
He also said that the satellite committee, which includes Arab Islamic scholars, members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Muslim World League, decided to put the production of the satellite to tender in January 2005. The tendering would take place in cooperation with the Cairo University’s Space Studies Centre (CUSSC).
Al Khateeb said that moon sighting has always been a controversial issue among Muslim nations, and scholars have different views over the issue.
“Many scholars believe that Muslims in different countries should follow one sighting as long as the sightings are made on the same night in these countries. While others believe that Muslims worldwide should abide by the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia,” he said.
He explained that the expected Islamic satellite would solve this controversial problem.
“During the committee meetings, scholars agreed that the satellite, to be manufactured on the basis of specifications and descriptions determined by CUSSC, would be operated by a main station located in Cairo and a sub-station in the holy city of Makkah. These two stations would control the operations of the satellite and be responsible of maintaining it on regular basis,” Al Khateeb said.
Islamic countries will provide at least $8 million to fund the project, Al Khateeb said, adding that the satellite will fly at a low altitude to be able to monitor the crescent.
He noted that the satellite would be sending images of the crescent to the ground stations in Egypt and Makkah.
Al Khateeb also stressed the importance of the various services that will also be provided by the new satellite.
“In the first phase, the satellite’s mission will be sighting the crescent. Later on, the satellite will be developed so as to be linked with Islamic media channels to play a great role in correcting the misconception about Islam in western countries,” he said.