Saudi Space Agency Unveils Concurrent Design Facility, Adopts Integrated Mission Lifecycle

CDF is designed to accelerate the planning and execution of space missions through the application of concurrent engineering and advanced simulation technologies. (SPA)
CDF is designed to accelerate the planning and execution of space missions through the application of concurrent engineering and advanced simulation technologies. (SPA)
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Saudi Space Agency Unveils Concurrent Design Facility, Adopts Integrated Mission Lifecycle

CDF is designed to accelerate the planning and execution of space missions through the application of concurrent engineering and advanced simulation technologies. (SPA)
CDF is designed to accelerate the planning and execution of space missions through the application of concurrent engineering and advanced simulation technologies. (SPA)

The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) inaugurated on Monday its new Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) and announced the adoption of an Integrated Mission Lifecycle (IML) framework.

CDF is designed to accelerate the planning and execution of space missions through the application of concurrent engineering and advanced simulation technologies, sais SSA on its website.

By streamlining the design process, the facility is expected to reduce feasibility study times by up to 75% and system design costs by as much as 50%.

The center will also serve as a hub for collaboration, hosting workshops and knowledge-sharing initiatives among space industry professionals.

SSA has adopted IML as a standardized approach to project and program management. Developed in-house, IML aims to optimize operations, enhance efficiency, and foster collaboration within the agency.

This strategic move positions SSA as a leader in complex engineering project management.

The establishment of CDF and the adoption of IML underscore the Kingdom’s commitment to building a robust space sector and developing world-class capabilities.

The launch, attended by SSA CEO Dr. Mohammed Altamimi, Deputy CEO Dr. Valanathan Munsami, and key industry stakeholders, marks a significant step forward for the Kingdom’s space program.



Endangered Turtle Returned to Waters off Cyprus After Medical Stay 

Lucy, a green sea turtle crawls back to the sea in a beach in Meneou, Cyprus July 26, 2024. (Reuters) 
Lucy, a green sea turtle crawls back to the sea in a beach in Meneou, Cyprus July 26, 2024. (Reuters) 
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Endangered Turtle Returned to Waters off Cyprus After Medical Stay 

Lucy, a green sea turtle crawls back to the sea in a beach in Meneou, Cyprus July 26, 2024. (Reuters) 
Lucy, a green sea turtle crawls back to the sea in a beach in Meneou, Cyprus July 26, 2024. (Reuters) 

An endangered green sea turtle, nicknamed Lucy by her carers, is back where she belongs in the waters off Cyprus after a three-month recuperation stint at the island's aquaculture research facility.

Lucy was found on a beach earlier this year suffering apparent exhaustion, but after receiving treatment for dehydration, steroids and a vitamin-packed diet, the 20-year-old turtle was released on Friday off the southern city of Larnaca.

"She is now capable of surviving on her own," said Yianna Samuel, a fisheries and marine research officer at Cyprus's department of fisheries and marine research.

Two species of turtle, the green turtle and the loggerhead, also known as Caretta caretta, breed on the beaches of Cyprus. Green turtles are considered endangered, while loggerheads are classed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.