Saudi-based King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has launched a major program to help the Kingdom's outstanding students conduct research works at US labs.

The KACST move comes as part of its efforts to produce a new generation of Saudi space scientists, the Arab News reported citing a statement from the university.

'The Saudi students will be able to conduct research programs on board US space stations, opening new horizons for them in space science,' the KACST said in a statement, adding that the students would work under the supervision of its experts.

The national research institute said students would design and develop their scientific research projects using CubeSat, a miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a volume of exactly one liter and a mass of no more than 1.33 kg.

Beginning in 1999, California Polytechnic State University and Stanford University developed the CubeSat specifications to help universities worldwide to perform space science and exploration.

It has since grown to become an international partnership of over 40 institutes that are developing picosatellites containing scientific payloads.-TradeArabia News Service