17 March 2025
Botswana’s first satellite, BOTSAT-1, was successfully launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9—Transporter 13 rideshare mission on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, USA. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off the Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at 06:39 am GMT, carrying 74 satellites.
These included BOTSAT-1, 26 satellites as part of the Transporter-13 rideshare mission, and a trio of CubeSats for NASA’s Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) mission; Arvaker 1, the first microsatellite for Kongsberg NanoAvionics’ N3X constellation.
Click here to watch the launch replay.
BOTSAT-1 is a 3U hyperspectral Earth Observation satellite developed by the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and the satellite’s lead manufacturer, EnduroSat. ExoLaunch managed the launch in partnership with Space X as part of the Transporter missions, a smallsat rideshare programme.
Botswana’s President, Duma Gideon Boko, attended the launch of BOTSAT-1 as part of his working visit to the United States of America, accompanied by BIUST Vice Chancellor Professor Totolo and other senior government officials. The President also visited various sites such as the Space X Rocket Production and Starlink Mini Production Facilities, signalling future increased collaborations with the company. The launch of BOTSAT-1 as the country’s first satellite demonstrates its space capabilities and positions Botswana to fully utilise space as a resource for its national development.
Key Mission Objectives
Launched at a near-polar and sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 500 kilometres, BOTSAT-1 will provide crucial Earth Observation data for the country’s national development priorities: food security, environmental conservation and urban planning. Additionally, the project has allowed for intensive Human Capacity Development (HCD) among Botswana’s engineers, who have gained practical skills in satellite development. This strengthens the country’s technical capabilities and positions it to lead future developments, such as BOTSAT-2, the country’s second satellite whose specifications are currently being developed.
BOTSAT-1 will transmit data through its fully operational ground station located at BIUST. The satellite will scan Botswana from east to west, covering a swath of approximately 32 kilometres with a resolution of 12 meters.
Conceptualised in 2020, the satellite has passed through various stages of development and completed its Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) phase in September 2024, marking the last significant milestone before its transportation to its launch location.
The launch of BOTSAT-1 brings Africa’s total satellite launches to 65, joining 10 other countries operating Earth Observation satellites leveraging satellite data to tackle regional challenges in agriculture, resource management, and disaster preparedness.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2025/03/15/botswana-successfully-launches-first-satellite-botsat-1/
