Kenya is gearing up to launch its first operational 3U Earth Observation satellite, the Taifa-1 satellite, on April 11, 2023.
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) is collaborating with Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) for the launch, which will take place at Vandenberg Base, California, USA, aboard a Falcon-9 Rocket.
A joint statement from the Ministry of Defence and KSA on Monday stated that the mission’s goal is to provide accurate and timely earth observation satellite data to stakeholders in various fields, including agriculture and food security.
The satellite will provide data for decision support in agriculture and food security, natural resources management, and environmental monitoring, among other applications.
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Another objective of the mission is to “develop Kenya’s technical capacity on the whole value chain of space technology development and applications.”
This launch is a key milestone for Kenya, as it contributes significantly to the growth of satellite development, data analysis, and processing, as well as the development of applications.
The Taifa-1 satellite was entirely designed and constructed by a team of Kenyan engineers, while the parts were manufactured and tested in collaboration with Endurosat AD, a Bulgarian aerospace manufacturer.
According to the KSA, the launch mission was the result of a design and development process that lasted over two years.
A delegation from Kenya, led by Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru, will travel to the USA to witness the launch “weather and other conditions permitting.”