Engineering:Taifa-1
The Taifa-1 satellite also capitalized as TAIFA-1 satellite, is a Kenyan earth observation 3U CubeSat, and was launched on 14 April 2023 into space together in a joint collaboration with Exolaunch aboard a SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.[1] It is the first satellite launched by Kenya Space Agency that was purely developed by Kenyan engineers with an intensive training provided by EnduroSat.[2][3] Although the satellite was developed and designed by Kenyan engineers, the manufacturing was solely done by EnduroSat.[4]
It was dubbed as the first Kenyan 3U software-defined NanoSat. The satellite was launched with the weight of expectations surrounding around the need of elevating the space economy of Kenya to global standards.[5] It took approximately a span of two years to prepare the satellite and about 50 million Kenyan shilling was spent for the project while the satellite was given insurance by Marsh Limited.[4]
Background
SayariLabs and EnduroSat reportedly signed a commercial agreement to launch the TAIFA-1 satellite.[6]
Development
Launch and purpose
TAIFA-1 became the first operational satellite to be launched by Kenya.[7] The satellite took off from California, USA, according to images from the US space company as it reached orbit on 14 April 2023.[8]
The Kenyan Ministry of Defence and the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) together in a joint statement indicated the moment as "an important milestone" that should be able to boost Kenya's "budding space economy".[9] The satellite was supposed to be part of Kenya's ambitious efforts to boost and foster space economy.[10]
Legacy
The word "taifa" is derived from the Swahili-language and it implies a meaning of "one nation".[11]
References
- ↑ "Kenya to launch operational satellite TAIFA-1" (in en). 2023-04-11. https://www.france24.com/en/video/20230411-en-nw-grab-plt-renouille-from-07h-for-08h-ayach-sara.
- ↑ "TAIFA-1 – First Kenyan software-defined NanoSat" (in en-US). 2022-01-25. https://www.endurosat.com/news/taifa-1-kenyan-nanosat/.
- ↑ "Kenya launches first operational satellite into space" (in en). Reuters. 2023-04-15. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/kenya-launches-first-operational-satellite-into-space-space-x-2023-04-15/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Kenya's first satellite Taifa-1 launches to space after three attempts" (in en). 2023-04-15. https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/east-africa-news/kenya-s-first-satellite-taifa-1-launches-to-space-after-three-attempts-4200320.
- ↑ "All set for launch of Kenya’s earth observation satellite" (in en). 2023-04-08. https://nation.africa/kenya/news/all-set-for-launch-of-kenya-s-earth-observation-satellite-4191966.
- ↑ Iderawumi, Mustapha (2023-04-15). "SayariLabs Launches its 3U Earth Observation Satellite, Taifa-1" (in en-US). https://spaceinafrica.com/2023/04/15/sayarilabs-launches-its-3u-earth-observation-satellite-taifa-1/.
- ↑ 关晓萌. "Kenya set to launch first earth observation satellite". https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202304/04/WS642bef58a31057c47ebb85a8.html.
- ↑ "Kenya's pioneering Taifa-1 satellite finally in orbit after launch delays" (in en). 2023-04-17. https://www.rfi.fr/en/science-and-technology/20230417-kenya-s-pioneering-taifa-1-satellite-finally-in-orbit-after-launch-delays.
- ↑ "Kenya launches first operational satellite into orbit" (in en). https://www.deccanherald.com/world/kenya-launches-first-operational-satellite-into-orbit-1209962.html.
- ↑ "Kenya to launch first operational satellite next week" (in en). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/4/kenya-to-launch-first-operational-satellite-next-week.
- ↑ "TAIFA-1 Launch | Kenya Space Agency". https://www.ksa.go.ke/news/taifa-1-launch-spacex/.
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