Uganda’s satellite, PearlAfricaSat-1, has been launched into the International Space Station by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Virginia, USA, on November 7th , 2022.
Addressing journalists and government officials Monday afternoon in Kololo, Dr Monica Musenero, the Minister for science, technology, and innovation, said Uganda has been relying on satellites from other countries.
“We didn’t have our own. With this technology, we are creating new careers, and new jobs, and we are opening up a space for new businesses,” she said.
The launch means we will have a better prediction for our weather or disasters.
Musenero added that the satellite will support weather forecasting, land, water, and mineral mapping, agriculture monitoring, infrastructure planning, border security, and disaster prevention.
The satellite will subsequently be deployed into low-Earth orbit in December 2022.
“Uganda is also setting up an Earth station at Mpoma, Mukono, for command, control, and management of our satellite here in Uganda, by Ugandans,” she revealed.
The happy minister expressed her gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for supporting the initiative.
Musenero appreciated the three Ugandans, Mr. Edgar Mujuni, Mr. Bonny Omara, and Mr. Derrick Tebusweke, who spent time in Japan to give Ugandans a product that passed all tests and qualified according to NASA standards.
The satellite’s developers revealed that the delay in launching due to a fire alarm at the NASA plant yesterday, had no effect on Uganda’s satellite.
The initiative began in October 2019 after President Museveni directed the development of a National Space Agency (NASA) and Institute.
The satellite developers handed over the technology in May 2022 to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for final testing and approval ahead of the launch.
This innovation is part of the Joint Global Multi-Nation Bird Satellite Project.