Senegal’s first satellite, GAINDESAT-1A, has been successfully launched into orbit, marking a significant step toward the country’s “technological sovereignty,” President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced. The satellite lifted off from Vandenberg base in California at 18:56 GMT on Friday, according to Faye’s post on X.
“This achievement, the result of five years of hard work by our engineers and technicians, represents a major advance for our technological autonomy,” he stated, expressing pride and gratitude to those involved in the project.
Senegal’s public broadcaster RTS reported that the satellite was designed and built by Senegalese engineers in collaboration with the French Montpellier University Space Centre (CSUM). The Falcon 9 rocket launched several satellites, including GAINDESAT-1A, into orbit.
RTS noted that the satellite will gather data for various state agencies, including the Directorate for Water Resources Management and Planning (DGPRE) and the National Civil Aviation and Meteorology Agency.