Taifa-1
The Taifa-1 satellite also capitalized as TAIFA-1 satellite, is a Kenyan earth observation 3U CubeSat, and was launched on 14 April 2023 into space together in a joint collaboration with Exolaunch aboard a SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.[1] It is the first satellite launched by Kenya Space Agency that was purely developed by Kenyan engineers with an intensive training provided by EnduroSat.[2][3] Although the satellite was developed and designed by Kenyan engineers, the manufacturing was solely done by EnduroSat.[4]
It was dubbed as the first Kenyan 3U software-defined NanoSat. The satellite was launched with the weight of expectations surrounding around the need of elevating the space economy of Kenya to global standards.[5] It took approximately a span of two years to prepare the satellite and about 50 million Kenyan shilling was spent for the project while the satellite was given insurance by Marsh Limited.[4]
Background
[edit]SayariLabs and EnduroSat reportedly signed a commercial agreement to launch the TAIFA-1 satellite.[6]
Development
[edit]Launch and purpose
[edit]TAIFA-1 became the first operational satellite to be launched by Kenya.[7] The satellite took off from California, USA, according to images from the US space company as it reached orbit on 14 April 2023.[8]
The Kenyan Ministry of Defence and the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) together in a joint statement indicated the moment as "an important milestone" that should be able to boost Kenya's "budding space economy".[9] The satellite was supposed to be part of Kenya's ambitious efforts to boost and foster space economy.[10]
Legacy
[edit]The word "taifa" is derived from the Swahili-language and it implies a meaning of "one nation".[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Kenya to launch operational satellite TAIFA-1". France 24. 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ "TAIFA-1 – First Kenyan software-defined NanoSat". CubeSat by EnduroSat. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ "Kenya launches first operational satellite into space". Reuters. 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ a b "Kenya's first satellite Taifa-1 launches to space after three attempts". The Citizen. 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ "All set for launch of Kenya's earth observation satellite". Nation. 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ Iderawumi, Mustapha (2023-04-15). "SayariLabs Launches its 3U Earth Observation Satellite, Taifa-1". Space in Africa. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ 关晓萌. "Kenya set to launch first earth observation satellite". global.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ "Kenya's pioneering Taifa-1 satellite finally in orbit after launch delays". RFI. 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ "Kenya launches first operational satellite into orbit". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ "Kenya to launch first operational satellite next week". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ "TAIFA-1 Launch | Kenya Space Agency". www.ksa.go.ke. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
