The Bulgarian aerospace enterprise EnduroSat recently announced its collaboration with the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) to develop Botswana’s inaugural software-defined satellite, BOTSAT-1. The launch is slated for SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission, targeting a February 2025 departure.
The engineering team from BIUST will work in tandem with EnduroSat’s specialists in Sofia to finalize the satellite’s assembly and integrate its payload. BOTSAT-1 is designed to bolster Botswana’s key sectors, such as mining and agriculture, by incorporating a hyperspectral imaging camera. This camera will capture images with a spatial resolution of 32 meters from an altitude of 500 kilometers and cover a swath width of 32 meters.
The satellite is expected to be ready by August 2024 and will be launched into orbit via SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. BOTSAT-1 is set to play a crucial role in surmounting developmental hurdles in Botswana, driving technological advancements, and endorsing sustainable growth.
The satellite’s capacity to gather data across various light bands, including the near-infrared spectrum reflected off the Earth’s surface, will provide vital information and insights that are critical for strategic planning and long-term investment decisions. SpaceX is tasked with managing the launch logistics and will perform thorough testing to ensure the operation proceeds without any complications.
EnduroSat’s Founder and CEO, Raycho Raychev, commended BIUST for its strategic approach to growth and its commitment to establishing a robust space program, stating, “The fact that the organisation has a long-term strategic growth vision and is strictly following that vision will enable them to build a formidable space program.”
The partnership between EnduroSat and the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) is poised to go beyond the initial project of launching BOTSAT-1, as both parties, along with the Botswanan government, are keen on positioning Botswana as a central hub for space technology, reflecting the nation’s aspirations in the realms of science and technology.
In an effort to foster educational exchange and develop expertise in the field, the collaboration will also focus on leveraging EnduroSat’s recently established Master’s program in space engineering and technology. This initiative will provide a platform for knowledge transfer and skill development in the burgeoning space sector.
As Botswana gears up for the launch of its first satellite, the country is set to join an exclusive club, becoming the 16th African nation to have a satellite in space. This milestone is indicative of the broader trend of increased engagement in space exploration and research across the African continent.
Botswana’s announcement to join the ranks of the African Space Agency comes at a time when other African nations are also making significant strides in space endeavors. Nigeria is working towards sending its first astronaut into space, Zimbabwe has recently launched ZimSat-2, and Zambia has entered into an agreement with StarVision for a spaceborne AI algorithm rideshare, all of which underscore the dynamic progress in Africa’s space technology sector.
