NIBONG TEBAL – Penang will be the first state to have the earth station farm and space technology centre to be built at the University of Science Malaysia (USM) Engineering Campus.
The project, jointly developed with Angkasa-X Innovation Sdn Bhd, is expected to be completed next year at a cost of RM30 million.
Angkasa-X executive chairman Sean Seah said the station will be located in a 0.8-ha compound, with the satellite expected to be launched next year.
“We will launch satellites into space next year, and for that, we need a special area to send the ground signal from here.
“Therefore, we built this earth station farm and space technology centre, which we expect will be completed later this year,” he told a press conference after the ground-breaking ceremony today, which was attended by Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzy and Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Seah said that in addition to serving as a signal location for satellites, the station will also be used as a laboratory or centre for research and development.
He believes that the space technology ecosystem will be a way to improve the community’s living standards, including in non-urban areas.
Meanwhile, Chow said the state government is committed to working closely with any space-based technology industry company.
This is in line with the implementation of the Penang Digital Transformation Master Plan 2021-2023 as well as Penang’s ongoing commitment to attract, develop and retain talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“In this regard, I look forward to seeing cooperation between Angkasa-X Innovation, USM and Digital Penang in dealing with new waves of strategic investment in economics related to space technology.
“The existence of the earth station farm and space technology centre has certainly provided a new dimension to the industry’s success in Penang in 50 years,” he said. – The Vibes, May 19, 2022
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