Putting our space presence to good use
BEFORE the end of this year, Zimbabwe will join the world’s growing list of nations with satellites in orbit.
In fact, as early as November 6, the country’s first satellite — ZimStat1 — will be launched into space.
This will mark the beginning of the country’s exciting journey into achieving endless possibilities that straddle across various sectors.
Once launched, Zimbabwe will be able to deploy geospatial technology to manage its boundaries, calculate its full mineral quantities and help telecommunications companies improve their services.
The time is now for Zimbabwe to fully explore geospatial and space technologies to solve the socio-economic issues in our nation.
Since the first satellite was launched into orbit in 1957, space technology has evolved rapidly. Today, a growing number of satellites orbit around the earth providing information and services to support global communications, the economy, security and defence, safety and emergency management, the environment and health, among many other things.
However, as of June 2020, only 11 African countries (Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Sudan) had successfully launched 41 satellites into orbit — an indication that the continent is yet to adequately explore space technology.
ZimSat-1’s launch into orbit is therefore considered the first baby steps of the country’s fledgling space programme which began in 2018 following the establishment of the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA).
Four years ago, President Mnangagwa launched the ZINGSA to advance the country’s interests in geospatial science, earth observation and satellite communication systems.
It is envisaged that the satellite will immensely help in monitoring environmental hazards and the mapping of human settlements, among other things. This is
particularly important at a time when climate change is taking its toll on the country, with veld fires ravaging an average of one million hectares of land annually.
What makes the satellite project even more interesting is the fact that Zimstat-1 was built by Zimbabwean engineers who were working with the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan.
Apparently, the Southern African country has qualified space scientists, space engineers and earth observation experts who are ready to tackle various geospatial projects that will leapfrog Zimbabwe’s economic growth.
This expertise is something that we ought to be proud of as a nation because it means we can provide solutions to our own problems, instead of entirely depending on foreign-based space programmes that we have no control over.
One of the ZINGSA’s departments, the Geospatial Sciences and Earth Observation, will conduct specialised research and development on projects and activities on geospatial applications and earth observation, including mineral exploration, disaster management, meteorology and weather forecasting, geospatial intelligence, agriculture and ecosystems conservation, landscape analysis and geology mapping, among other things.
Today, mining companies employ specialised companies to analyse spectral data of specific areas collected by the satellite constellations that circle the earth to help them determine likely locations for mineral exploration and mining.
As the country works towards attaining an upper middle income economy by 2030, data collected through Zimstat-1 will provide invaluable insight for policy makers, business people, mining companies and farmers so that they can make the right business decisions and propel the country’s economy forward.
While the initial cost for space exploration is very high, the projectclearly has many benefits in the long run and investing in such an initiative is worth every single cent.
Satellites are very important tools, especially in this predominantly digital world.
It doesn’t matter if one is a great scientist with an intelligence quotient (IQ)of 160, the chief executive of a successful company or just an ordinary citizen living the good life on the streets of Chipinge; satellites provide a solution for a safe and sustainable future.
Till next time, let’s chew the cud.