After the introduction of Western sanctions last year, many contracts for the launches of foreign spacecraft using Russian rockets were terminated, nevertheless, Roscosmos continues to provide launch services to customers from friendly countries. One of them is the UAE, and in the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center it has already declared that it will launch its space device using the Russian carrier rocket 'Soyuz-2'.

On June 27 at 15:34 UAE time (14:34 Moscow time), the MBRSC will launch its first PHI-Demo mission from the Russian spaceport Vostochny using the Soyuz-2 rocket as part of the Payload Accommodation Initiative, reported the Dubai government.

The satellite, which is planned to be put into orbit using a Russian rocket, is designed to provide communication for IoT systems. It is developed by the local startup OQ Technology as part of Space Ventures initiative of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center. It will store and forward data collected from Internet-connected devices. Interestingly, the satellite also incorporates an engine subsystem that uses water as fuel. It's developped by the British SteamJet.