Mmegi

BOTSAT-1 delayed but ready to launch

Up, up and away: Boko and officials at the Space X facilities PIC: DUMA BOKO FACEBOOK
Up, up and away: Boko and officials at the Space X facilities PIC: DUMA BOKO FACEBOOK

Botswana’s first space satellite, BOTSAT-1, has passed all tests and is ready to launch from Space X’s facilities in California, USA, with the much-anticipated event expected to take place any time from now, the project’s lead, Dimane Mpoeleng has said.

The lift-off has been delayed by technical issues affecting a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launch which occupies the rocket launch right before BOTSAT-1. NASA is the American space agency.

In a brief interview with Mmegi this evening, Mpoeleng said the NASA rocket which is ahead of BOTSAT-1 is experiencing technical issues, and SpaceX and NASA are currently working through them.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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