Senegal has entered a new era of technological advancement with the successful launch of its first satellite, GAINDESAT-1A, into orbit. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye hailed the achievement as a significant step towards “technological sovereignty,” underscoring the nation’s growing in the space sector.
The satellite was launched on Friday at 18:56 GMT from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, as announced by President Faye on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “This launch is the culmination of five years of dedicated work by our engineers and technicians. I am immensely proud and grateful to all who contributed to making this historic project a reality,” Faye stated.
GAINDESAT-1A was designed and developed by Senegalese engineers in collaboration with the French Montpellier University Space Centre (CSUM). This partnership signifies a major achievement for Senegal’s nascent space program, which aims to harness satellite technology for national development.
According to the nation’s public broadcaster, RTS, the satellite will play a crucial role in collecting and transmitting data for various state agencies. Among its primary users will be the Directorate for Water Resources Management and Planning (DGPRE) and the National Civil Aviation and Meteorology Agency, which will utilize the data for resource management and environmental monitoring.
The successful launch of GAINDESAT-1A marks a pivotal moment in Senegal’s technological journey, reflecting the nation’s commitment to advancing its scientific and engineering capabilities on the global stage.
