Senegal has successfully placed its first satellite in orbit, announced President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who stated that this launch marks an important step towards the country's "technological sovereignty

Named GAINDESAT-1A, this satellite launched from the Vandenberg launch base in California, the Senegalese leader stated on social media X on Friday night

Transported by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, this satellite is part of a space mission that has allowed the launch of 115 additional small satellites into orbit from the United States as part of the Transporter 11 mission

GAINDESAT-1A was built by Senegal in collaboration with the University Space Center of Montpellier (France). The nanosatellite is designed to monitor Senegalese territory and collect information for the country's economic and environmental services

According to the African Union, Senegal has become the twelfth nation on the continent to launch its satellite into space

Source of the article: africanews