Mongolia got a head start last week in its ambition to launch a national satellite with the launch of two domestically manufactured low earth orbit (LEO) nano satellites and a 'sandbox' to develop the local space industry.
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The two Cubesat satellites Ondosat-Owl-1 and Ondosat-Owl-2 were successfully launched on Monday aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket from the company's Vandenberg Space Force Base launch site.
According to a government statement released on last Thursday, Ondosat-Owl-1 and Ondosat-Owl-2 were built by Mongolian company Ondo Space, and successfully completed rigorous space environmental testing at Japan’s Kyushu Institute of Technology.
The Mongolian government also announced it will establish a 'space sandbox' to support continued growth of its domestic space sector.
The ‘sandbox’ is a “comprehensive new framework to provide regulatory and policy support for companies to conduct testing and research and development in Mongolia, while making use of the country's newly enhanced connectivity and competitive talent pool.”
Uchral Nyam-Osor, Mongolia’s Minister of Digital Development and Communications, said the dual nano satellite network and space sandbox will position Mongolia as a high-value investment and research destination for global companies across the space and technology sectors.
"Introducing a regulatory 'sandbox' within a comprehensive legislative framework aimed at facilitating the business landscape for cutting-edge technologies will ensure that the government actively fosters ongoing growth and innovation across key domains such as the space economy, artificial intelligence, IoT, and other emerging technologies,” he said in a statement. ■
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