Senegal joins African space pioneers with first satellite launch

SpaceX's next-generation Starship spacecraft makes it’s third launch

SpaceX's next-generation Starship spacecraft, atop its powerful Super Heavy rocket, lifts off on its third launch from the company's Boca Chica launchpad on an uncrewed test flight, near Brownsville, Texas, U.S. March 14, 2024. REUTERS/Cheney Orr

Source: REUTERS

Senegal has officially joined the ranks of African nations with satellite capabilities following the successful launch of its first satellite, GAINDESAT-1A.

The satellite was launched into orbit from the Vandenberg base in California on Friday, August 16.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, announcing the historic achievement for the West African nation in a post on X (formerly Twitter), described it as a crucial step in the country’s quest for technological independence.

“Senegal enters a new era today with the successful launch of our first satellite, GAINDESAT-1A at precisely 6:56 p.m. from the Vandenberg base in California,” Faye wrote.

“The result of 5 years of hard work by our engineers and technicians, this advance marks a major step towards our technological sovereignty,” he added.

GAINDESAT-1A was designed and built by Senegalese engineers in collaboration with the French Montpellier University Space Centre, as reported by local media RTS. The satellite was among 116 mini-satellites and CubeSats aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket during its mission from the California base.

The primary objective of the satellite is to gather crucial data for various state agencies in Senegal, including those involved in water resource management, civil aviation, and meteorology.

With this achievement, Senegal joins an exclusive group of 12 African countries that have successfully launched their own surveillance and telecommunications satellites. It also becomes the second sub-Saharan French-speaking nation, after Djibouti, to enter the space race.

Edward Sakyi