Minister Blade Nzimande welcomes successful launch of EOS SAT-1 satellite

Minister Nzimande welcomes the launch of South Africa’s first world’s agriculture-focused microsatellite

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has welcomed the successful launch of the EOS SAT-1 (AgriSat-1/ ZA-008), the first imaging satellite to be built by South African company Dragonfly Aerospace.  The satellite was launched on 3 January by US aerospace company SpaceX at Cape Canaveral, Florida, as part of the Transporter-6 mission.

The launch of the 170 kg microsatellite follows last year's successful launch of three locally produced nanosatellites by the Department of Science and Innovation and its partners.  The Maritime Domain Awareness Satellite constellation (MDASat-1) was launched on SpaceX's Transporter-3 mission and marked the first launch of a satellite constellation developed entirely on the African continent.

The EOS SAT-1 satellite is the first of a seven-satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit for customer EOS Data Analytics.  The remaining six satellites of the constellation will be deployed over the next three years.

EOS SAT is the world’s first agriculture-focused satellite constellation, providing the agriculture and forestry industry with high-quality data to support efficient and sustainable practices.

Images obtained from Dragonfly’s EOS SAT-1 will deliver valuable information for applications such as harvest monitoring, seasonal planning and assessments that analyse information such as soil moisture, yield prediction and biomass levels.  This data will support growers with reducing carbon dioxide emissions and help them to develop sustainable agricultural methods.

Such information will have important environmental benefits for the planet and will maintain biodiversity and help prevent natural habitats from being diminished for crop growth.EO1 SAT 1

Congratulating Dragonfly Aerospace, the Minister said the EOS SAT-1 launch is a proud moment for the country – not only is it a world first because of the satellite’s much-needed agricultural focus, but it is 100% locally developed.  "This will further cement South Africa's position as an African leader in small-to-medium satellite development, and help the country to capture a valuable share of a niche market in the fast-growing global satellite value chain," said Dr Nzimande.

"In 2009 the Department launched the SumbandilaSat, a technology demonstrator, in partnership with the South African industry.  SumbandilaSat was launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, with monitoring and satellite support from the South African National Space Agency Space Operations facility in Hartebeesthoek," said the Minister.

The Minister added that the SumbandilaSat initiative demonstrated South Africa's satellite build capability and facilitated human capital development.  The programme allowed for the training of nine new black trainee engineers (four of whom were female) and broadened the experience of 78 other engineers.  The Sumbandila programme produced 18 Master's and two PhD students in engineering at Stellenbosch University.

The country's current satellite engineering capabilities are based on government investment on SumbandilaSat programme.

Equipped with two dragoneye electro-optical imagers, EOS SAT-1 will provide 44 km swath panchromatic and multispectral imagery across 11 spectral bands – making it one of the most capable imaging satellites in lower Earth observation.

For more information contact Taslima Viljoen at 082 990 1685 or Taslima.Viljoen@dst.gov.za

Enquiries:
Ishmael Mnisi
Cell: 066 037 8859

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