Ethiopia has reportedly launched its first remote-sensing microsatellite into space on Friday, December 20. The Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing Satellite ET-RSS1 was launched into space from China’s Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on board a Long March 4B rocket, reported Reuters.
The satellite, weighing about 65 kg, can obtain remote-sensing data for agriculture, forestry, water conservation, and disaster prevention. It will be mainly used for monitoring agricultural production, the environment, mineral exploration, and weather forecasts.
High-level government officials, space scientists, and others gathered at the Entoto Observatory and Research Centre, north of the capital Addis Ababa, to watch a live broadcast of the satellite’s launch on Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.
“This will be a foundation for our historic journey to prosperity,” said Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen at the launch event broadcast on state television.
According to Solomon Belay Tessema, Director General of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute, the satellite was designed by Chinese and Ethiopian engineers and the Chinese government paid about $6 million of more than $7 million satellite manufacturing costs. About 20 Ethiopian engineers have been trained in China for the operation of the ground station.
“Space is food, space is job creation, a tool for technology…sovereignty, to reduce poverty, everything for Ethiopian to achieve universal and sustainable development,” Tessema said.
He added that Ethiopia’s government policies focus on transforming agriculture into a modern industry. The satellite data can be used for the analysis of agriculture, climate change, the environment, drought, and natural disasters. He said that the microsatellite program has helped establish a strong collaboration between Ethiopia and China.
Notably, though the satellite was launched from China, Ethiopian space scientists will have complete command and control over ET-RSS1 at the Entoto Observatory and Space Science Research Center (EORC) in Ethiopia, which is part of the Ethiopian Space, Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI).
