Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Senegal made history today as it officially joined the ranks of space-faring nations with the successful launch of its first satellite, GAINDESAT-1a. The satellite was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the United States as part of the Transporter-11 mission, which carried 116 small satellites into orbit.

The launch marks the culmination of a five-year project led by the Senegalese Ministry of Higher Education in collaboration with the University Space Center of Montpellier (CSUM) in France. GAINDESAT-1a, a 100% Senegalese satellite, represents a €1.5 million investment aimed at bolstering Senegal’s technological sovereignty and space capabilities. The satellite’s command operations will be managed by Senegal’s new Space Control Center, in partnership with the French National Centre for Space Studies and the Ariane Group.

Originally scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, the project faced slight delays. Nevertheless, today’s launch is a moment of pride for Senegal. Maram Kaïré, Director of the Senegalese Agency for Space Studies, hailed the event as a “historic day” and a key milestone in the country’s ambition to become a space nation.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the achievement, calling it “the fruit of 5 years of hard work by our engineers and technicians.” He emphasized that the successful launch “marks a major step towards our technological sovereignty.”

GAINDESAT-1a is expected to support various applications, including Earth observation, communications, and scientific research. The satellite’s successful deployment not only strengthens Senegal’s presence on the international stage but also highlights its commitment to advancing technological and scientific capabilities.

Kaïré expressed his gratitude to “all of Senegal and all the teams that contributed to the success of this project,” while President Faye echoed the sentiment, expressing his “pride” and “gratitude to all those who made this project possible.”

Senegal’s entry into the space age is a testament to the country’s determination to leverage science and technology for national development, setting the stage for future advancements in the field.