An innovative partnership between a Bulgarian satellite manufacturer and Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) has been announced to construct Botswana’s first satellite.
BOTSAT-1 space education
With a hyperspectral camera payload, BOTSAT-1 is anticipated to launch as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission.
The project, which is scheduled for launch no later than February 2025, aims to improve space education in Botswana.
A statement from EnduroSat stated, in part, that “BOTSAT-1 will directly benefit local agriculture and mining industries by using the onboard hyperspectral camera payload to provide key intelligence on the contents of grounds and soils.”
According to BIUST, decision-makers can use this new space data to make more informed long-term plans and investments.
BIUST experts will collaborate with the EnduroSat team in Sofia, Bulgaria, to finalize the satellite assembly and payload integration.
SpaceOps program
Furthermore, it is anticipated that BIUST will use the SpaceOps software and the satellite’s software-flexible design.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi first brought up the satellite proposal in his 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA), expressing the nation’s desire for a knowledge-based economy.
“Botswana will be integrated into the worldwide satellite ecosystem for research and development across multiple fields,” Masisi stated.
On July 3, European microsat manufacturer EnduroSat revealed intentions to collaborate with a Southern African landlocked nation’s university to construct Botswana’s inaugural satellite.
Three-unit (3U) conventional CubeSat
Based on a three-unit (3U) conventional cubesat structure, EnduroSat announced that engineers from Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) are joining the manufacturer’s team in Bulgaria to assist in creating Botsat-1.
sensor to cover 32-kilometer
A representative for EnduroSat stated that the sensor would cover a 32-kilometer swath at 500 kilometers above sea level and have a spatial resolution of 32 meters.
The information gathered can identify materials and offer insights into the quality of vegetation, water, and air by gathering several bands of light reflected from the Earth’s surface within the spectrum’s visible and near-infrared (VNIR) region.
According to the International Trade Association of the U.S. government, Botswana is the world’s leading producer of diamonds by value; the industry contributes slightly less than one-third of the nation’s total domestic product.
However, Botswana is forced to diversify its economy due to a downturn in the world market for raw diamonds.
Who is funding the project?
The government of Botswana is providing money for Botsat-1, which EnduroSat stated is a component of a larger plan to establish a space hub in the nation and will use its upcoming Space Engineering & Technology qualification program, which is scheduled to begin in October.
An email from an EnduroSat representative stated, “BIUST has already invested in developing its equipment, including ground stations, so synergy on educational programs [is] one of our common priorities within this mission.” Implementing practice-driven space education to draw and develop local talent begins with BOTSAT-1.
partnership and advancement of space technology in Botswana
Vice-chancellor of BIUST Otlogetswe Totolo said, “This partnership brings us closer to realizing our shared vision and underscores the strength of our mutual commitment to advancing space technology in Botswana.”
EnduroSat claims to have supplied 60 satellites to far, having launched its first satellite in 2018.
The idea of Botsat-1 was born out of the need to allow a broader range of nations to participate in the space community, which was previously only open to wealthier countries, thanks to increasingly flexible and affordable satellites.
SpaceX’s Transporter-11 rideshare mission will include the launch of Senegal’s first satellite later this month.
