Kenya launches first operational satellite into space

Category : Science and Tech Published on: April 21 2023

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Kenya successfully launched its first operational earth observation satellite, ‘Taifa-1’, into space, marking a significant milestone in the country’s space program.
The satellite was delivered into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and is expected to provide valuable data for various applications, including agriculture, disaster management, and environmental monitoring.
The satellite was developed and designed by Kenyans but manufactured at Endurosat in Bulgaria at a total cost of 50 million Kenyan shillings ($371,000).
The satellite is intended to provide data for agriculture and environmental monitoring in Kenya, much needed in the East African country which is currently experiencing a historic drought.
Taifa-1 is capable of capturing images in five different multispectral bands.
The Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) of Taifa-1 is 32 m for the multispectral band and 16 m for the panchromatic band.
The country launched an experimental nanosatellite that lifted from the International Space Station in 2018.
As of the end of 2022, 14 African countries had launched a total of 52 satellites, according to consulting firm Space Hubs Africa.