Kenya set to launch first earth observation satellite

The Kenya Space Agency is set to launch the country's first operational earth observation satellite, called Taifa-1, next week in a landmark achievement for the country's space program, the government said on Monday.

According to the country's space agency, the April 10 launch — set to be aided by the US-based Space Exploration Technologies Corporation — will take place at Vandenberg Base, California, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

While giving a joint statement from the defense ministry and Kenya Space Agency, the agency's director-general Hillary Kipkosgey said space offers the best long-term perspective, knowledge and understanding of what is happening on Earth and in our immediate environment.

"The launch of Taifa-1 is a moment of national pride, because it will play a critical role in decision support in a number of socioeconomic activities, including environmental monitoring, natural resources management and agriculture. It will also facilitate capacity-building in space systems engineering, space operations, data processing and analytics, ground station services and operations, among others," Kipkosgey said.

He added the satellite was fully designed and developed by Kenyan engineers. However, testing and manufacturing of the parts were done in collaboration with a Bulgarian aerospace manufacturer.

Egypt was the first African country to send a satellite into space in 1998. In 2018, Kenya launched its first experimental nano-satellite from the International Space Station.

Data from Space in Africa, a Nigeria-based firm that tracks African space programs, indicates as of 2022, at least 13 African countries had manufactured 48 satellites. More than 50 African satellites had been launched by the end of 2022, although none from African soil. 

In January, the government of Djibouti also announced a memorandum of understanding with a Hong Kong-based company to build a $1 billion commercial spaceport that is expected to take five years to complete.