(Ecofin Agency) - Initially scheduled for 2021, the launch of the Egyptian earth observation satellite MisrtSat-II is postponed to 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The information was reported by the Head of the satellite development team, Haitham Medhat.

He said the team began developing the space infrastructure in 2019 and has already completed the design reviews but delivery has been hampered by the global crisis. The manufacture of the various components of the satellite is now planned and the integration of the subsystems should be completed by next year.

The China-financed MisrSat-II satellite is the result of a partnership between the African country and the Middle Empire. It will be assembled by Egyptian and Chinese engineers at the Egyptian Satellite Assembly, Test and Integration Center, which is currently being finalized. The infrastructure, which will eventually be launched from China, will help Egypt realize its development plans in many areas, according to Ahmed al-Rafie, the project manager.