A delegation led by Dr Cheikh Oumar Anne, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI), visited the Centre Spatial Universitaire de Montpellier (CSUM) to assess the progress of the construction project of Senegal’s first satellite and reiterated the country’s plans to launch the nanosatellite in the third quarter of 2023.
In 2019, Senegal laid out a timeline to build and launch its first satellite and set a two-year actualisation timeframe for the project. Through this satellite, Senegal aims to take advantage of space applications for socio-economic and scientific development and create a thriving local space ecosystem for scientific research and industrial innovation. Furthermore, the government will partner with universities and NewSpace companies to promote opportunities for students looking to break into the space industry.
Dr Gayane Faye, Coordinator of the Senegal Space Programme, in his speech during the NewSpace Africa Conference 2022, disclosed that the country would also launch the Senegalese space agency in addition to the satellite. The government aims to build its assembly, integration and testing soon.
