Côte d’Ivoire is going to space – with plans to build a 100% local nanosatellite.

According to the Conversation Africa, the YAM-SAT CI 01 earth observation satellite is being built over two years by Universal Konstructors Associated, a private local company promoting scientific and technological development in Côte d’Ivoire, in collaboration with the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INPHB) of Yamoussoukro. It is expected to be launched into orbit in Q3 2024

Its onboard hyperspectral camera will provide useful data for Ivorian farmers to enable them to adapt to climate change. It will be used for crop mapping, soil mapping and monitoring crop health.

The nanosatellite is intended as a first step towards more sophisticated satellites to monitor, for instance, threats to national security, illegal migration, deforestation and illegal gold mining activities.

In addition, Côte d’Ivoire hopes the satellite will act as a catalyst for the local space science industry.

The INPHB is already planning new curricula covering space and aeronautics and the country has launched an Association for Astronomy to promote astronomy and space science among the wider population.

18 July 2023
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