SENEGAL has achieved a significant milestone in its technological development with the successful launch of its first satellite, GAINDESAT-1A, into orbit. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced the launch, highlighting it as a crucial step towards the West African nation’s goal of achieving ‘technological sovereignty.’
The GAINDESAT-1A satellite was launched at 18:56 GMT on Friday from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, according to a post by President Faye on X (formerly Twitter) late Friday evening.
‘This is the result of five years of dedicated effort by our engineers and technicians,’ Faye stated. ‘This achievement marks a major step towards our technological sovereignty. I express my deep pride and gratitude to everyone who made this project a reality.’
The satellite was designed and manufactured by Senegalese engineers in collaboration with the French Montpellier University Space Centre (CSUM). Senegal’s public broadcaster, RTS, reported that the satellite was launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, which also carried several other satellites into orbit.
The GAINDESAT-1A will play a vital role in collecting data for various state agencies in Senegal, including the Directorate for Water Resources Management and Planning (DGPRE) and the National Civil Aviation and Meteorology Agency. This data will support critical functions such as resource management, environmental monitoring, and meteorological forecasting.
The successful launch of GAINDESAT-1A marks a pivotal moment in Senegal’s journey towards greater autonomy in technology and space exploration, positioning the country as a leader in West Africa’s emerging space industry.
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