(MENAFN - Morocco World News) Rabat – For the first time in the Arab world, the International Space Station (ISS) will organize a teleconference between and astronauts on January 2018.

Twenty Moroccan students from Rabat have been chosen to communicate with astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS).

Organized by the National School of Computer Science and Systems Analysis (ENSIAS) in collaboration with the UK Space Institute KSF Space, this event is a first in the MENA region .

ENSIAS students will have the opportunity to ask direct questions about space to ISS astronauts. Public figures have also been invited to attend the event which will be streamed on the KSF Space YouTube channel.

This conference comes a month after Morocco launched its first satellite, , in November 8. This significant event made the kingdom the third African country with a after Egypt and South Africa.

The Moroccan satellite will be dedicated to Earth observation and will be able to map and take high-resolution images in any weather, night and day.

Images collected by the satellite will help Morocco polish its green policies, in line with the country's commitments to the fight against climate change and environmental protection.

Morocco's second , Mohammed VI-B, is expected to be launched in 2018. Preparations for the launch will be announced in due time.

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