Kenya on Friday successfully launched its first satellite into space, an event that was watched by many.
Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency assisted the University of Nairobi with funds to build and assemble the satellite.
The satellite was launched with support from the International Space Station.
People gathered at a major auditorium in Kenya’s University of Nairobi to watch the live launch.
The 10cm nano satellite will help the university gather information for mapping purposes as well as monitor the coastline of Kenya.
Officials said the satellite will also help fight against illegal logging in Kenya.
The Japanese government funded the project with $1m and provided the platform for the satellite construction.
Last year Ghana also launched its first satellite called Ghansat-1 into orbit. It was developed by the All Nations University Campus in Koforidua in Eastern Ghana.
Ghanasat-1 was launched into International Space Station (ISS) by SpaceX, Flight 11 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida-USA.
The successful launch of the satellite made Ghana the first country in Sub-Saharan African to launch academic Satellite into space.
Source: Africafeeds.com
