The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) has joined forces with EnduroSat to embark on the construction of the country’s inaugural satellite, BOTSAT-1. Scheduled for launch aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission no earlier than February 2025, BOTSAT-1 aims to revolutionise local agriculture and mining sectors through advanced space technology.
Equipped with a hyperspectral camera payload, BOTSAT-1 will provide crucial insights into ground and soil compositions, directly benefiting decision-makers in agriculture and mining with essential data for long-term planning and investments.
EnduroSat is facilitating hands-on technical and mission operations experience in Botswana. BIUST engineers will collaborate with EnduroSat in Sofia to assemble and integrate the satellite’s payload. The satellite’s software-flexible architecture will be leveraged through the SpaceOps software by BIUST, enhancing operational capabilities.
Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, Vice Chancellor of BIUST, said: “EnduroSat has been an exceptional partner in our journey to launch Botswana’s first satellite. Their expertise and support have been invaluable, and we are excited about the progress we have made together. This partnership brings us closer to realising our shared vision and underscores the strength of our mutual commitment to advancing space technology in Botswana.”
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