Tech & Sci
09:08, 10-Jul-2017
Ghana puts its first satellite into orbit
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By CGTN's Fridah Mlemwa
Ghana has successfully sent its first satellite, GhanaSat 1, into space, reported Citi FM online.
After two years of research and development by the All Nations University (ANU), GhanaSat 1 was launched into orbit from the International Space Station (ISS), and its first signal has been successfully received.
It had been sent to the ISS from the Kennedy Space Center on board SpaceX flight 11 a month ago.
At a cost of 50,000 US dollars, GhanaSat1 will be used to monitor the West African nation’s coastline for mapping purposes and to establish research and study in the field of space science in Ghana and Africa.
Project coordinator Dr Richard Damoah said that the satellite “will also help train the upcoming generation on how to apply satellites in different activities around our region.”
The successful launch of the satellite makes Ghana the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to launch an academic satellite into space, according to local media. Nigeria has previously launched five satellites into space, as part of its government's space program.
Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo has congratulated ANU for the satellite's launch.