Kenya joining the space race with a satellite is good news
Some of the Kenyan engineers who worked on the Taifa-1 satellite. From left: Pattern Odhiambo, the communication subsystem lead; Major Hope Deche, the ground receiver segment lead; and Captain Aloyce Were, the structural and mechanism lead. On the table is the model of Taifa-1 satellite, Kenya's first operational Earth observation satellite.
Today, Kenya will launch its first operational and earth observatory satellite, Taifa One (Nation One), designed and developed by Kenyan engineers, aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Testing and manufacturing was done in collaboration with a Bulgarian aerospace manufacturer and the launch will be broadcast live on the National Aeronautical Space Agency (NASA) TV—which will help to give Kenya more brand recognition globally.
