Handover of first KiboCUBE CubeSat developed by the team from the University of Nairobi. Photo courtesy of JAXA.
The University of Nairobi has asked the public and private sectors to work with it in expanding space technology after successfully deploying a satellite into the orbit.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Peter Mbithi said the achievement marks the beginning of a tough journey.
“As a university, we advocate research development and we look forward to providing solutions for humanity,” he said.
Dr Vijoo Rattansi, the Chancellor, said the university has identified a list of collaborators to work with to execute the programme.
Officials from Kenya receiving the handover acknowledgement from JAXA Officials. Photo courtesy of JAXA.
“We appeal for support to design, manufacture and deploy a nanosat constellation,” she said.
According to the University, the satellite named First Kenya University Nano Satellite Precursor Flight (1KUNS-PF) was successfully deployed from KIBO (a satellite deployment module) from the Japan Space Agency Tsukuba Space Centre in Tokyo, Japan.
It is the first outer space object registered by Kenya and the first Kenyan Satellite that has gone into space orbit.
Kenya's first satellite, 10 cubic centimetres, is developed and operated by University of Nairobi under the KiboCUBE programme between United Nations Office for Our Space Affairs (Unoosa) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa).
PHOTO | YASUYOSHI CHIBA | AFP
Its payload consists of two commercial cameras and experimental web audio upload and broadcast – capable of limited earth observation and audio broadcast.
The satellite was deployed on Friday through a collaboration between the University of Nairobi, School of Engineering – the KiboCube Team, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (Unoosa), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, University of Rome in Italy, and the Kenya Space Agency.
The university is running the program lead by Principal Investigator Prof. Jackson Mwangi Mbuthia, who is also the current Dean, School of Engineering, College of Architecture and Engineering, University of Nairobi.
The data collected by the satellite is expected to help the government in making key decisions in weather forecasting and disaster management.
by Faith Nyamai, DailyNation
