How is Botswana building its first space satellite?
Jul 24, 2024
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Professor Otlogetswe Totolo discusses Botswana's first space satellite, Bot-Sat-1, emphasizing its potential in town planning, mining, and farming. The podcast explores the significant investment required for such projects and the intersection of computer science in space engineering. It also highlights the close relationship between the university and village community, promoting female participation in engineering.
Botswana's satellite project aims to benefit agriculture and urban planning.
Botswana's investment in space technology is considered worthwhile for future development projects.
Deep dives
Botswana's Initiative in Space Technology
Botswana, a country in southern Africa, is venturing into space technology by developing its own satellite. The satellite named Botsat-1 is a national project involving various institutions like the Botswana International University of Science and Technology and Botswana University of Agriculture. President Massisi's vision to incorporate Botswana in the global satellite imagery arena led to this groundbreaking initiative, costing around 3 to 4 million US dollars.
Benefits and Team Composition of the Satellite Project
The satellite project aims to provide crucial data for agricultural, urban planning, and environmental observation purposes. The team involved in this national endeavor includes a collaboration between universities and research institutions, encompassing scientists, engineers, and young talents. The long-term benefits of owning a satellite are emphasized, including reduced costs compared to purchasing images from other countries.
Launching and Impact of Botswana's Satellite
The completion of the satellite assembly is expected by August, but rigorous testing awaits before its launch in February 2025 via SpaceX Falcon 9. The satellite's compact size, approximately 40x30 cm when deployed, reflects the country's resourcefulness in space technology. This pioneering project also aims to inspire the youth in Botswana, fostering interest in science and engineering through educational outreach programs and competitions.
“The initial investment is quite high, but looking long-term into many development projects, I think it is an investment worthwhile” – Professor Otlogetswe Totolo
Botswana is building its very first space satellite.
Known as Bot-Sat-1, it is being developed by scientists and engineers at Botswana International University of Science and Technology in the town of Palapye.
The southern African country is looking to use images produced by this technology in town planning, mining, farming and other areas of commerce.
Alan Kasujja sits down with Prof. Otlogetswe Totolo and Dr. Dimane Mpoeleng who are at the heart of the project.
He tries to understand if the satellite is worth the millions of dollars spent to develop it.
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