Oman completed a much-anticipated test flight of a high-altitude rocket on Thursday, marking a significant step forward for the Middle East’s expanding space ambitions.
The landmark launch from the under-construction Etlaq Spaceport in southern Duqm had originally been scheduled for lift-off on Wednesday but was delayed due to adverse weather conditions.
The 6.5-meter rocket, named Duqm-1, blasted off as the weather improved sufficiently to allow the maiden mission to proceed.
The Sultanate of Oman launched its first experimental scientific rocket, Duqm-1, under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, represented by the National Space Program. The project was implemented in collaboration with strategic partners and executed by Etlaq Company, a subsidiary of the National Aerospace Services Company (NASCOM).
The launch took place from Site 18 North, 56 East, located in the south of Duqm, and marked the first stage of a phased project. The rocket, measuring 6.5 meters in length and weighing 123 kg with fuel, reached an altitude of 140 km at a speed of 1,530 m/s during its 15-minute mission.
For safety reasons, the launch was not open to the public. Oman also planned three additional launches in 2025, with dates to be announced later.
The project stemmed from a usufruct agreement between Etlaq Company and the Ministry, granting land use in the Al Kahl area of Duqm’s Al-Wusta Governorate to establish a spaceport for rocket launches.
NASCOM, a fully Omani company established in 2021, focused on advancing Oman’s space sector and investing in key projects that enhanced the country’s space capabilities.
You can read an interview with H.H. Azzan Al Said, CEO of NASCOM. Azzan Al Said has been involved with technology ventures and startups since 2014. Such initiatives include fintech platforms, high-output computer systems, and nanotech solutions for wear resistance within industrial applications. Azzan has been advising the National Space Program in Oman since 2021 and founded the National Aerospace Services Company (NASCOM) in the same year to facilitate the development of concepts within the Sultanate’s space sector. Since 2022, NASCOM has been spearheading the country’s initiative to develop the Middle East’s first commercial spaceport. In parallel to his involvement with space and technology, Azzan actively promotes sports and is the vice president of the national olympic committee of Oman. His qualifications are: BSc in politics and philosophy and a postgraduate diploma in international management from Oxford Brookes University, and he is a professionally qualified army officer from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
