Senegal has successfully launched its first satellite, GAINDESAT-1A, into orbit, marking a significant achievement in the country’s pursuit of technological independence, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced.
The satellite was launched at 18:56 GMT on Friday from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. President Faye hailed the accomplishment as a result of five years of dedicated work by Senegalese engineers and technicians.
“This achievement represents a major step towards our technological sovereignty,” Faye said in a post on X late Friday. “I express my pride and gratitude to all who contributed to making this project a reality.”
According to Senegal’s public broadcaster RTS, the GAINDESAT-1A was designed and manufactured by Senegalese engineers in collaboration with the French Montpellier University Space Centre (CSUM). The satellite was launched into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, which carried several other satellites as well.
The GAINDESAT-1A will play a crucial role in collecting data for various Senegalese state agencies, including the Directorate for Water Resources Management and Planning (DGPRE) and the National Civil Aviation and Meteorology Agency. This data is expected to support critical sectors such as water resource management and aviation, further advancing Senegal’s capabilities in these areas.