University of Nairobi on May 11. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Summary
- With the launch of 1KUNS-PF, the only fifth in Africa, Kenya joined four other African countries – Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia and Nigeria —that have launched one satellite each.
- Kenya’s nanosatellite is the size of a soccer ball and is able to deliver a detailed imagery and information about a territory from space.
- This means technology advances have become smaller and cheaper, enabling developing countries such Kenya to cost-effectively collect troves of valuable data to be able to effectively manage its affairs and resources.
Three months ago, Kenya launched its first space nanosatellite,
thrusting the country to the centre of cutting-edge technology. This was
a moment of glory as the breakthrough ushered the country into the
hallowed ground of elite innovators if not in the world, at least in
Africa.
During the launch of the technology dubbed
Nanosatellite Precursor Flight (1KUNS-PF), also known as CubeSat, what
it did not come out clearly is how the project will benefit the country.
Now a report by the University of Nairobi says Kenya stands to reap big
from the innovation. Such technologies, the report notes, have a
variety of uses, pre-eminent of which is collecting useful data crucial
for monitoring and managing its resources better.
The
report shows that the technology conducts earth mapping, earth
observation, land use and environ monitoring, weather forecasting, food
security mapping and forecasting. It is also crucial for communication,
disaster management, coastline and border monitoring, outer space
observation, management of forests, livestock and wildlife monitoring
and management.
The new technology was deployed into space by Japan’s aerospace
exploration agency on 11 May and screened live at the University of
Nairobi’s Chandaria Centre of performing arts auditorium.
With
the launch of 1KUNS-PF, the only fifth in Africa, Kenya joined four
other African countries – Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia and Nigeria
—that have launched one satellite each.
According to
the Index of Objects Launched into Outer Space maintained by the United
Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), there are 4,635
satellites currently orbiting the planet, an increase of 8.91 per cent
compared to last year. Russia launched the first satellite, Sputnik 1,
in 1957.
“Our economy will become tech-driven. Reliable
data will be for early warning systems and data marking. Weather data
will be key in disaster preparation,” says the report
Kenya’s
nanosatellite is the size of a soccer ball and is able to deliver a
detailed imagery and information about a territory from space. This
means technology advances have become smaller and cheaper, enabling
developing countries such Kenya to cost-effectively collect troves of
valuable data to be able to effectively manage its affairs and
resources. Few years ago, the cost of developing such an advanced piece
of technology was prohibitive to developing nations, making them a
preserve of the wealthy West.
The nanosatellite’s lead scientist Prof Jackson Mbuthia told
Enterprise that even though the country already made one of its greatest
leaps in the technology sphere by launching its first space satellite,
the scientific community still remains relentless with plans to produce
“bigger projects”. Building the human capital and a satellite
development capacity requires a long term commitment to a space science
program, he added.
“We are still doing more research to
have bigger and better technologies in the country. This is just the
beginning. When you come back here (University of Nairobi) in about one
year from now, we will be able to show you bigger things that we have
and the way forward,” said Prof Mbuthia who is also the dean, School of
Engineering and Architecture, at the University of Nairobi.
The
UoN report shows that the nanosatellite proposal was first submitted on
31 March 2016 by Prof Mbuthia and Prof Heywood Ouma of department of
electrical and information engineering, to the United Nations, Japan
Cooperation Programme.
Following the submission of the proposal, UoN won a grant leading to the development of the 1KUNS-PF.
The
Kenyan team also composed of Prof Vitalis Oduor, UoN’s lecturer of Cube
satellite antennas and communications and about 33 undergraduate and
postgraduate students who participated in building the CubeSat. They
coordinated with colleagues from the University of Rome.
The
end product — the nanosatellite – is a 10 cubic centimetre first outer
space object registered by Kenya. The gadget consists of two commercial
cameras and experimental web audio upload and broadcast, capable of
limited earth observation and audio broadcast. Power is stored in two
rechargeable battery packs and silicon solar panel, coupled with
computer, communication system, GPS receiver and telemetry - an
automated communications process by which measurements and other data
are collected at remote or inaccessible points and transmitted to
receiving equipment for monitoring.
The report shows
that depending on the mission goals for each year of the space program,
the cost of design, manufacture, launch per minimum satellite and
gradual setting up of the requisite laboratories require a financial
commitment ranging from $500,000 to $1million (Sh100 million) annually.
A
student records a live transmission using a mobile phone during the
public viewing of the deployment of Kenya’s first nanosatellite
(CubeSat) from the International Space Station (ISS) at the
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