The launch of Kenya’s first operational 3U Earth observation satellite, Taifa-1, has been delayed due to bad weather.
This is after Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) announced that the unfavorable upper-level wind conditions would affect the flight trajectory of the Falcon 9 Transporter 7 mission.
Originally, the launch was slated to occur on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 9:44 a.m.
“This is to inform the Kenyan public that Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) has announced a 24-hour delay for the launch of the Falcon 9 Transporter 7 mission earlier scheduled for Monday 10 April 2023 at 11.44 pm Pacific Time (Tuesday 11 April 2023 at 9.44 am Kenyan time),” the Ministry of Defence said in a joint statement with Kenya Space Agency.
Taifa-1 satellite, along with other satellites from various nations, was expected to be launched in the same Transporter 7 Rideshare Mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The new launch is now set to take place on Wednesday 12 April 2023 at 9.44 am.
“The delay affects the anticipated launch of Taifa-one satellite alongside other satellites from other countries on the same Transporter 7-rideshare mission. The launch is now expected to take place on Tuesday April 11 at 11:44pm Pacific Time (Wednesday April 12, 9:44am EAT),” the statement adds.
Kenya Space Agency and Defence Ministry said in a joint statement last week that the satellite will provide timely and regular satellite data for decision support to agriculture and food security, natural resources management, disaster management, and environmental monitoring, among other applications.
The launch is a culmination of a KSA mission design and development of the satellite spanning twenty-four months.
KSA said Taifa-1 has been fully designed and developed by a team of Kenyan engineers.
