Tanzania set to launch its first national space satellite this year

Tanzania is set to launch its first national space satellite this year. It will become the 16th African nation to send its own satellite into orbit

President Samia Suluhu Hassan declared the nation’s move into space technology earlier this year, making it one of the ministry’s key objectives for this year.

Nape Nnauye assured top ministry officials present at a retreat that every effort was being made to guarantee the nation’s first satellite was launched.

We are confident that Tanzania’s satellite will be launched this year. It will be possible… We are currently laying the ground, said Mr Nnauye.

The initiative was one of the ministry’s main objectives for this year. It is expected to cost billions of shillings and allow Tanzania to join other African nations with its own satellites.

When President Hassan hinted at the massive endeavour on May 19 of this year, she kept the details secret. However, she made it clear that discussions with the relevant local and foreign partners were underway in order to reach the scientific milestone.

Currently, 53 satellites have been launched by 15 African countries; nine of those 52 satellites were launched by commercial entities. The first satellite on the continent was launched in 1998 by South Africa – SUNSAT-1

Egypt has the most satellites in space, with nine already in orbit.

South Africa comes in second with eight satellites in orbit, followed by Algeria with seven, Nigeria with six, and Morocco, the Maghreb region’s economic powerhouse, with three.

More African countries have satellites in the sky including Ghana, Sudan, Ethiopia, Angola, Kenya, Rwanda, and Mauritius.