First-Ever Kenyan-Made Satellite Set to Be Launched to Space
The first ever Kenyan-made satellite is set to be launched from the International Space Station (ISS).
The satellite was made by Kenyan engineers from the University of Nairobi with the assistance of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa).
The apparatus has been developed in new form referred to as nanosatellite - an extremely small cubic-shaped satellite of 10 by 10 centimeter and whose volume is one liter.Its development cost Sh120 million, which was largely financed by Japan.
Koichi Wakata, who is the Jaxa ISS program manager, said the small satellite will be transported to the ISS in a large in March ahead of its launching into space in April or May.
"At Jaxa, we are committed to making every effort to prepare for the successful deployment of the Republic of Kenya's first satellite utilizing the unique capability of the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the ISS," Wakata said in a statement.
University of Nairobi engineer Dr Jackson Mwangi, who led a team involved in developing the nano-satellite said it was handed over to Jaxa in Japan on Tuesday last week.
“The 1KUNS-PF (1st Kenyan University Nano Satellite Precursor Flight) is the first satellite to be developed by Kenyans and first Satellite to be operated by a Kenyan University,” he said.
Comments
What will the satellite do…
Permalink
What will the satellite do in space? Collect data? We need to know.
Clueless... Devil's advocate…
Permalink
Clueless... Devil's advocate? Maybe. Largely financed by Japan... 120m...?loan?..why if it's a Kenyan endeavour? Will it be 'Kenyan' if it succeeds? Why is Japan being nice :)?
How does such collabos work?
First of All: 1. This…
Permalink
First of All: 1. This reminds me of the 1st NYAYO 1 Car in 1986 (that Went With the Wind). 2. It also reminds me of how (some years back) an HIV/AIDS Vaccine was Developed by Kenyans: But was TRASHED by the "Know-it-All" Westerners (and I guess the Idea Eventually Got STOLEN (by the same 1st World that can NOT agree that "Africa is the Craddle of Civilization/ and even Medications).
NONSENSE ... we cant even…
Permalink
NONSENSE ... we cant even irrigate and grow food and we are building sattelites ... hii ni upuzi ya nasa
TIBIM! LOL!!! Upuzi ya NASA?…
Permalink
In reply to NONSENSE ... we cant even… by TIBIM (not verified)
TIBIM! LOL!!! Upuzi ya NASA? Nasa ya Kenya au ya US?
Article says sh120 million,…
Permalink
Article says sh120 million, which would be the equivalent of $1.17 million USD or under £1m. It also says development cost, but isn't clear if that includes the costs of getting it up to space or not, which on something like this is probably the majority of the cost involved.
I agree that not sharing the purpose of the satellite was a pretty glaring oversight in this article. A separate article by Kenya's 'The Star' said:
The UoN team said it would use its satellite to test technologies it has developed for the future launch of a larger earth observation satellite. The team also hopes to apply data acquired from the satellite to monitor agriculture and coastal areas.
What will this box do?
Permalink
What will this box do?
Thank you @vorcht for that…
Permalink
Thank you @vorcht for that clarification. @tibim do you want our scientists to stop working just because we have failed in other areas? Just the other day, we read about people in your county using water from a new multi million dum meant for irigation, to only wash clothes, boda bodas and probably for swimming. As one of their opinion leaders, what are you doing to help them?
Add new comment