Senegal to launch its first satellite, GAINDESAT

Senegal is ready to launch its first Earth Observation (EO) satellite, GAINDESAT. In 2019, the country laid out a two-year plan to build and launch its satellite. Through this satellite, Senegal aims to take advantage of space applications for socio-economic and scientific development and create a thriving local space ecosystem for scientific research and industrial innovation.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Gayane Faye, the Coordinator of the Senegalese Space Project, SENSAT said: “Senegal, through the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, has wholeheartedly committed to SENSAT. After three years of hard work in collaboration with the University Space Centre of Montpellier (CSUM), GAINDESAT is ready to launch”.

SENSAT and CSUM will partner with digital platform Ride Space to integrate GAINDESAT satellite into Vigoride, Momentus’s Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV). The satellite will play a crucial role in collecting valuable data for Senegal, contributing to firefighting efforts, flood management, erosion control, and advancing agricultural development.

Through the satellite launch, Senegal’s goal is to leverage space applications to drive socio-economic and scientific development and establish a thriving local space ecosystem for research and innovation.

The partnership with RIDE Space and CSUM represents a significant milestone for Senegal’s space ambitions. By harnessing the potential of satellite technology and artificial intelligence, Senegal aims to enhance its ability to address critical challenges such as disaster management and agricultural productivity. SatelliteProME