The delegation was composed of Prof. Vasily V. Sazonov, the Dean of the Faculty for Space Research, Prof. Anton Biryukov, from Sternberg Astronomical Insititute at MSU, and Prof. Bashir Abbas Samaha, a General Counselor at the Union of Rectors of Russian-Arab Universities. Prof. Ilias Fernini, SAASST Space Sciences Dept. Director, Prof. Mashhoor Al-Wardat, Academics Director, and Mr. Marwan Shwaiki, Public Outreach Dept. Director welcomed the delegation and discussed the different SAASST units, “Research Laboratories,” “Optical Observatories,” and the “Planetarium.”
Prof. Sazonov, the Dean of the Faculty for Space Research at MSU, presented the space sciences research and the different projects. This can be summarized in six areas: (1) Space and gravitation, (2) Space gravimetry, Sun, and Earth rotation parameters study, (3) Applied physics studies, (4) Earth and solar system bodies study from space, (5) Space materials sciences, and (6) Fundamental studies of astroparticles, plasma and electromagnetic fields in space and their applications.
Prof. Anton Biryukov, from Sternberg Astronomical Insititute at MSU, presented the MSU Space Telescope. This is a medium-class optical space telescope (Diameter = 550 mm) for multi-band photometry with a 5-180 sec temporal resolution. The launch date is expected to be in Q4 2026, with an operational life of more than five years. The mission cost is $40 million. The space telescope will target multi-band photometry of at least 1,000 stars with known exoplanets, search for intermediate-mass black holes, astrophysical transient events, active galactic nuclei, and solar system bodies.
A close meeting was conducted with the two Russians, Prof. Ilias, Prof. Mashhoor, and Prof. Mounir (Chairman of the UoS Applied Physics and Astronomy Dept.), to discuss the different collaboration areas. The meeting was concluded with the following two recommendations:
- Follow up on the possibility of collaborating in developing sensors for CubeSat applications with MSU for Sharjah-Sat-3 (SolSat) and Sharjah-Sat-4 (GNSS)
- MSU to write a proposal about the “Space Telescope” and the request for a $20 million UoS contribution.