Albania's 1st satellites launched into space

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – Albania has launched its first satellites into space, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Tuesday.

Albania-1 and Albania-2 were among 114 satellites lifted into orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, US.

“Starting today Albania has more high-tech capabilities to control, protect and administer its territory, providing real-time vital data on a number of key aspects for sustainable development,” Rama said on social media.

Last September, Albania signed a three-year agreement with an American company, Satellogic USA Inc., for a “Dedicated Satellite Constellation.”

In a statement after finalizing the $6 million deal, the company said it will give Albania “priority access” to the two satellites and “provide unprecedented, country-wide situational awareness via the best data from space.”

“Satellogic will enable ​​Albania to address pressing issues involving agriculture management, illegal crops, illegal construction activity, traffic management, wildfire monitoring, border security, and environmental monitoring through high-quality imagery with country-wide capacity,” read the statement.​​​​​​​