In pictures: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid welcomes KhalifaSat engineering team to palace

The Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai received the guests together with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid greeted the engineering team behind the successful launch of KhalifaSat at Zabeel Palace on Saturday.

The Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated the squad together with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The two leaders described the launch of the satellite on Monday as "a source of pride for their leadership, people, families and the Arab nation".

KhalifaSat was the first satellite designed, tested and manufactured entirely by Emirati engineers.

It was launched from Tanegashima island, some 40km south of the Japanese mainland, by a team from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.