Botswana is set to join the ranks of nations with satellites in orbit. The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) has partnered with Bulgarian aerospace company EnduroSat to develop the country’s first software-defined satellite, BOTSAT-1.
Scheduled for launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket in February 2025, BOTSAT-1 will mark Botswana as the 16th African nation to venture into space. The satellite, built on EnduroSat’s 3U microsatellite platform, will be equipped with a cutting-edge hyperspectral camera capable of capturing detailed imagery from 500 kilometers above Earth.
BIUST engineers will work alongside EnduroSat’s team in Sofia to assemble and integrate the satellite’s payload. This collaboration aims to foster technological innovation and provide hands-on experience for Botswana’s emerging space sector.
BOTSAT-1’s primary mission is to support Botswana’s mining and agricultural industries by providing crucial data on soil and ground composition. With a spatial resolution of 32 meters and the ability to collect data across multiple light bands, the satellite will offer valuable insights for strategic planning and long-term investments.
Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, Vice Chancellor of BIUST, expressed excitement about the project, highlighting its potential to address developmental challenges and promote sustainable growth in Botswana.
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This initiative comes amid a wave of space ambitions across Africa, with Nigeria planning to send its first astronaut to space and Zimbabwe recently launching ZimSat-2. As Botswana prepares to launch BOTSAT-1, it signals a new era of scientific and technological advancement for the nation.
The partnership between BIUST and EnduroSat extends beyond the initial satellite launch, with plans to establish Botswana as a regional space hub. This collaboration shows the growing importance of international partnerships in advancing space technology and fostering educational opportunities in the field.