With the prospective launch of the country’s first satellite, BOTSAT-1, in 2025, Botswana is positioning itself to maximise the opportunities in the rapidly growing space industry. The development of BOTSAT-1 is particularly remarkable given that Botswana currently lacks both a space agency and a space policy framework to drive and coordinate such space activities. This achievement is even more notable because it was driven by roughly 80 volunteers from the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), highlighting their deep dedication to advancing the nation’s space capabilities.
The project’s placement within BIUST required various university departments to take on roles typically found in a space agency, including administrative units like human resources, legal, and finance. Under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor’s office, BIUST effectively simulated the operations of a space agency, coordinating multiple departments and allocating resources in a way that demonstrated how different components must work together for a successful space mission.
We talked to Dimane MPOELENG, PhD, the project lead for the BOTSAT-1 mission, for exclusive insights into the project’s current state and future goals for the Botswana space programme.
Initiation of the BOTSAT-1 Project
Botswana’s first Earth Observation satellite (BOTSAT-1) originated from three critical national development priorities: environmental conservation, food security, and urban planning. Rather than purchasing satellite data from external providers, the Botswana team took the initiative to develop their own satellite. This decision would not only provide the needed Earth observation capabilities but also advance the country’s Human Capacity Development (HCD) goals.
Launch Date and Satellite Technical Details
Initially slated for launch in 2023 and rescheduled to February 2025, the latest insights from the project team indicate that the launch will happen no earlier than March 2025, subject to weather conditions and pre-launch checks. In September 2024, the satellite successfully passed its Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) phase and is currently ready for launch, having passed technical and operational requirements.
The satellite will be transported to its orbit by Space X’s Falcon 9 rocket aboard the Transporter-13 mission and will be operating at a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) altitude of approximately 500 kilometres. Additionally, BOTSAT-1 will operate in a near-polar and sun-synchronous orbit, maximising the revisit time and day observations over Botswana. The satellite will scan Botswana from the East towards the West, with a swath (sweep observation area) of about 32 kilometres, scanning at a 12-metre resolution.
The development of BOTSAT-1 spanned four years, from its initial announcement to completion. In this regard, the government pledged to allocate BWP 33 million (USD 2.41 million) per year towards the project. Nonetheless, the BOTSAT team demonstrated remarkable efficiency by utilising only BWP 30 million (USD 2.19 million) for the entire four-year duration, averaging about BWP 7 million (USD 512,000) annually. This highlights the team’s capability of employing cost-effective engineering and project solutions while delivering a soon-to-be operational 3U satellite and a ground station at just a fraction of the allocated budget.
BOTSAT-1 Ground Station
After BOTSAT1’s launch, the team will begin stabilising the satellite by reducing its uncontrolled rotation or tumbling motion after deployment into space, known as satellite detumbling. For this, the team targets two ground stations to assist in the process: one in Bulgaria (home to the lead satellite manufacturer – Enduorsat) and the BOTSAT-1 ground station at BIUST. Within several weeks into its operation, the team will start receiving the first images from the satellite. An interesting point of view is that the first message to be shared by the satellite will be the beacon of the country’s national anthem in Setswana, Botswana’s national language.
What is the status update on the ground station so far? Have there been any upgrades on it since its commissioning in 2022?
The ground station receives information from open-source orbiting satellites, such as the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) satellites, so the station is fully operational. The major upgrade we intend to do now, which will cost about USD 200,000 (BWP 2.73 million), is to upgrade it to the X-band. This capability will enable us to download images at a high speed. In this regard, the team is open to receiving antennas or support in the form of technical expertise from other developed countries as potential partners to assist in this endeavour.
During the ground station’s commissioning, the Ministry of Communications and Innovation (MCI) stated that the next phase would involve the construction of a clean room. What are the plans for this, and what is the current progress?
Yes, plans are still ongoing. We had to do most of the satellite testing and assembly outside BIUST because the clean room was not yet operational. The design of the clean room is now done, and the next step is being worked on. The cleanroom will be particularly important because we are already working on BOTSAT-2, and our goal for BOTSAT-2 is for the satellite to be largely assembled inside the clean room. Therefore, we aim to do our own assembly, integration, and mission plan and invest in software expertise that matches our mission requirements.
We aim to build just the shell for our clean room, with a cleanroom rating of ISO 6 or 7, capable of component assembly inside the shell. We are aware that some facilities, such as the shaker and the Thermal Vacuum Chambers (ThermoVac), can be quite expensive. The team intends to have the bare minimum service layer of the clean room for assembling components already tested elsewhere. After we assemble them, we can package our components and send them to other facilities, such as the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech), one of our potential partners.
Are there any ongoing Ground-station-as-a-service (Gsaas) operations, and if not, are there any considerations for this in the future?
Yes, this service is in the pipeline. We are considering end-user and uplink user access. For now, we are focusing on the launch of BOTSAT-1 as phase one. The beneficiation phase will come later. We are also encouraging the government and other related agencies to set up data centres to allow access to these images, which can enhance the commercialisation of satellite data. This will enable other stakeholders, such as small businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators, to fully utilise the outputs.
What are some of the partnerships that have made this project successful?
We have partnered with several organisations to make the launch of BOTSAT-1 successful. Our key engineering partner for this mission was EnduroSat, who worked with BIUST engineers to build the satellite. EnduroSat played a key role in developing Botswana’s engineering expertise, and through this, the engineers gained practical experience in satellite development, from assembly to mission operations. Additionally, this facilitated knowledge and technology transfer, which will be instrumental in strengthening Botswana’s technical capabilities in satellite development and operations, equipping the next generation of engineers with the tools and knowledge to lead future space missions.
Secondly, Exolaunch has been instrumental in the launch mission integration at an affordable price, which will be crucial in deploying BOTSAT-1 to its orbit. Thirdly, AAC Space Africa has played a pivotal role in the ongoing work at the BOTSAT-1 ground station, while Dragonfly Aerospace provided the main payload: the hyperspectral camera on the BOTSAT-1. Other partners include the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) and several other universities in Botswana.
A key lesson we have learnt and want to share with the other African countries developing their first satellite is the importance of having a variety of partners, each contributing to a different part of the project. This collective approach ensures a larger pool of expertise that strengthens the project at every stage, from design to launch. By leveraging diverse partnerships, countries can access specialised knowledge, reduce costs, and navigate challenges more effectively.
Please tell us more about the BOTSAT School Outreach Programme.
In anticipation of BOTSAT-1’s launch, BIUST initiated an outreach programme targeting senior schools in the country. The programme aims to promote STEM education and innovative thinking among students. Additionally, the programme emphasises the role of satellite technology and space exploration in solving real-world challenges. We have about 34 senior schools in the programme, corresponding to a reach of about 350 students across Botswana. Some of the activities we conducted included teaching the kids programming, simulations, and satellite tracking. We are also planning to invite these students to the launch event of BOTSAT-1, where they will present various satellite projects and thereafter celebrate the launch, inspiring some of them to be Botswana’s next satellite engineers.
What is the anticipated impact of this satellite project on the country, and what are the next steps for Botswana’s Space Programme?
With the expected launch of BOTSAT-1, the government has now prioritised the establishment of a space agency, which will be key in implementing subsequent BOTSAT missions. Recently, BIUST’s significant progress on the BOTSAT-1 project led to the formation of a dedicated committee to spearhead the establishment of a space agency. Additionally, the government has begun developing a national space policy framework, and we are currently working on developing BOTSAT-2’s specifications.
Are there any other planned infrastructure projects for 2025 through 2026 that we should expect from Botswana?
We will soon install a large radio telescope at BIUST as part of the Africa Very Long Baseline Interferometry (AVN), a group of interconnected radio telescopes across the African continent, contributing to radio astronomy science. The telescope will also contribute to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. The team at BIUST has been making preliminary designs for the base and the 30-plus metre antenna dish; hence, the project is progressing well.
Additionally, the president’s engagement with Space X officials to discuss Starlink operations in the country is expected to lead to more collaboration between Starlink and Botswana soon. Starlink plans to build two or three ground stations in Botswana, mirroring its recently established Point of Presence (PoP) in Kenya.