DAKAR — Senegal has marked a significant milestone by successfully launching its first satellite, GAINDESAT, into space from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, USA.
According to Burkina Informational Agency, the satellite was launched at precisely 6:56 p.m. on Friday. The event was heralded by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye via social media, where he declared, “Senegal is entering a new era today with the successful launch of our first satellite, GAINDESAT-1A, from the Vandenberg base in California.” He attributed the success to five years of diligent work by Senegalese engineers and technicians, emphasizing the move as a crucial step toward achieving technological sovereignty for Senegal.
The launch has been widely celebrated as a testament to the country’s growing capabilities in technology and space exploration, and it highlights the contributions of numerous individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to realize this ambitious project.