Uganda successfully launched its first satellite into orbit on Monday, following its development by three Ugandan and Japanese engineers as part of a multinational satellite design initiative.
PearlAfricaSat-1, the country’s cube satellite, would then be launched into low earth orbit in December of this year.
The PearlAfricaSat-1, according to the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology, is intended to deliver research and observation data that will provide solutions in weather forecasting, land, water bodies, mineral mapping, and agriculture monitoring. Other examples include catastrophe preparedness, infrastructure development, and border security.
Ms Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation stated that the new space services that will be available next year will be a game changer for the country’s economy, benefiting several industries.
“As a country, the development of PearlAfricaSat-1 presents opportunities for the development of subsequent satellites locally in Uganda, meaning our engineers and scientists will be providing practical solutions to the challenges facing the Ugandan citizens as well as boosting the country’s internal capacity to develop the space science and technology industry value chain,” Musenero said.
The BIRDS-5 project, which aims to take the first steps toward developing an indigenous space program by designing, building, testing, launching, and operating the first satellites for participating countries, is being carried out in collaboration with Japan’s Kyushu Institute of Technology, with Zimbabwe also participating.
Edgar Mujuni, Derrick Tebusweke, and Bonny Omara, three Ugandan students with master’s degrees in space systems engineering, were tasked with developing, testing, and launching Uganda’s first satellite into space.
