Kenya Space Agency Explained

Kenya Space Agency
Acronym:KSA
Motto:Possibilities beyond our skies
Leader Name:Maj Gen (Rtd) James Aruasa
Leader Title:Chairman
Headquarters:Pitman House, Jakaya Kikwete Road

The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) is mandated to promote, coordinate and regulate space related activities in the country. It was established in 2017 as the successor to the National Space Secretariate (NSS).[1]

History

In 1964, Kenya & Italy collaborated to establish a satellite launching and tracking base in Malindi called Broglio Space Center. From 1967 to 1989 over 20 sounding rockets & 9 rockets were launched from the Broglio Space Center. Until 2009 Kenya didn't have a space programme of its own. That changed with the formal installation of the NSS under the wing of the Ministry for Defence.[2]

Satellites launched

While there have been many launches by the Italian Space Agency using the Broglio Space Center until 1989, KSA launched its own satellites much later.

1KUNS-PF

The 1KUNS-PF is a CubeSat and was the first Kenyan-owned satellite to be launched into space in 2018.[3]

TAIFA-1

The TAIFA-1 satellite is an earth observation 3U CubeSat, was launched on 14 April 2022[4] together with Exolaunch aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9. It is the first satellite launched by KSA that was purely developed by Kenyan engineers with training provided by EnduroSat.[5] [6]

The word "taifa" is Swahili meaning "one nation".[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Kenya Space Agency . 2023-04-12 . ksa.go.ke.
  2. Web site: National Space Secretariat – Ministry of Defence – Kenya . 2023-04-12 . mod.go.ke.
  3. Web site: History as Kenya launches first operational satellite . 2023-04-12 . The Star . en-KE.
  4. Web site: Kenya Space Agency Taifa 1 Kenya Space Agency . 2023-04-12 . www.ksa.go.ke.
  5. Web site: 2022-01-25 . TAIFA-1 – First Kenyan software-defined NanoSat . 2023-04-16 . CubeSat by EnduroSat . en-US.
  6. News: 2023-04-15 . Kenya launches first operational satellite into space . en . Reuters . 2023-04-16.
  7. Web site: TAIFA-1 Launch Kenya Space Agency . 2023-04-12 . www.ksa.go.ke.