Engineers at the University of Nairobi in Kenya are set to make history when the country’s first satellite is launched into the International Space Station in March. The satellite was built by a Kenyan manpower with a $1 million funding from Japan through Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
The 10cm cube satellite described as a Nano-satellite will mainly be used to observe farming trends as well as monitor Kenya’s coastline. Upon its launch into space, it will be launched into action by a robotic arm.
The team from the University of Nairobi that developed it was the first to benefit from a joint project – between the United Nations and Japan’s national aerospace agency – aimed at supporting educational institutions from developing countries to manufacture their own satellites.
Kenyan joins the ranks of Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Ghana and Angola with satellites in Space. The satellite has kick-started Kenya’s efforts to be a trendsetter in the area in the Sub Saharan Africa by empowering local engineers to develop sustainable technology to holistically benefit the country.