Overview:
Uganda's satellite, the PearlAfricaSat-1 was also built by three of its own aerospace engineers, and hope that it will be able to set up its own command station to manage it.
Uganda’s homegrown satellite Pearl of Africa Sat-1, will be deployed
into the Earth’s lower orbit on Friday, December 2, the Ministry of Science and Technology has said.
The satellite which reached the space station will be deployed from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
This makes Uganda one of the few African, Asian, and South American countries benefiting from the Birds Satellite project initiated in 2015 by the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan.
The Uganda team comprising engineers Edgar Mujuni, Bonny Omara, and Derrick Tebusweke are back home and will watch the NASA launch on Television and the internet.
Dr. Monica Musenero, the Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation said the Pearl AfricaSat-1 will help provide research and observation data in six primary areas; including weather forecast; land, water, and mineral mapping; agriculture monitoring; infrastructure planning; border security, and disaster prevention.
In addition, she said Pearl AfricaSat-1 is the first satellite developed by Ugandans to address climate change challenges, such as drought which has taken Uganda by surprise since they lack accurate data.
“The statistical data collected could help distinguish bare ground from forests and farmland and possibly indicate the quality of agricultural growth. This could help improve the livelihood of citizens of Ugandan”, added, Dr. Musenero.
“The statistical data collected by the satellite will also help distinguish bare ground from forest and farmland and possibly indicate the quality of agricultural growth to improve the livelihood of citizens in the country,” authorities said.