Dubai: The UAE's first earth observation satellite blasted into space as per schedule from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan on Wednesday evening, according to the Interfax news agency.

"Six satellites, namely the DubaiSat-1, Deimos 1, UK-DMC 2, Nanosat 1B, AprizeSat 3, AprizeSat 4 were put in orbit by the Russian launcher Dnepr," Russian military spokesman Alexander Vovk said.

The 111-foot-tall booster, a converted ballistic missile now used for satellite launches, shot out of the underground silo in Kazakhstan at 1846 GMT (10.46pm UAE time), media reported. After reaching the surface, the Dnepr fired its first stage engines to propel the rocket toward space.

DubaiSat-1, the UAE’s first dedicated 'eye in the sky', will orbit 680km above the earth with an orbital speed of 27,000 km per hour.

The project, run by the Emirates Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), cost almost $50 million (Dh184 million) and the satellite has a minimum lifespan of five years.

Ahmad Obaid Al Mansouri, director-general of EIAST, said earlier: "Developing a core team of UAE scientists and experts was the most definitive outcome of a strategy that is geared to support mature, knowledge-based development. Developing a base of UAE scientists and engineers is a crucial first step in becoming a regional and global leader in the fields of advanced science and technology."

DubaiSat-1 was built in collaboration with the South Korea-based Satrec initiative and with the help of EAIST engineers. Its development team is already working on final designs for DubaiSat-2 as well as continuing with plans to create the country's first constellation of satellites.

DubaiSat-1 is the first remote-sensing satellite wholly-owned by a UAE entity. It aims to meet the needs of the UAE and Dubai in acquiring the technology of satellites and the continuous need for spatial information and earth observation data needs of the country.

The satellite carries an optical imaging camera with a black-and-white resolution of about 8.2 feet and a colour sharpness of 16.4 feet, according to EIAST.

DubaiSat 1 imagery will be used for urban development, scientific research, telecommunications, transportation, construction and mapping applications, according to the institute.

Scientists will use the data for fog forecasts, predicting sand storms, water quality research and engineering tests, officials said.

The launch was originally scheduled for last Saturday but it was delayed to allow for additional safety and security testing. Al Mansouri said: "Delays in launching procedures are not unusual and happen frequently as it is linked to the results of the final tests undertaken by the team of scientists and experts to ensure accomplishing the process in the smoothest way possible."

Five other satellites also blasted into space on Wednesday with DubaiSat-1.

These include Spain's Nanosta 1B, which will be used for experiments in nanotechnology; Britain's Deimos-1 and UK-DMC 2, which are part of a constellation of satellites to be used for disaster monitoring; and Spain's Deimos, which will be used for agricultural and environmental research.