- Ethiopia in command of 70 kg earth observatory satellite
- ETRSS-1 to enter orbit today
ADDIS ABABA- ETRSS-1, the first ever multi-spectral remote sensing satellite in the history of Ethiopia that weighs 70kg is due to take orbit today.
Speaking to The Ethiopian Herald, head of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI) Dr. Solomon Belay said the launching of the satellite will take place from China.
But, the command and control center of the satellite is positioned at the Entoto Space
Observatory facility-East Africa’s only space observatory facility positioned on the 3,200-meter hills of Entoto on the outskirt of Addis Ababa.
The whole project of the satellite and launching takes eight million USD, and the government of China covered six million USD.
He indicated that continuous training of engineers is covered partly by the Chinese government.
Apart from supporting the master’s degree and Ph.D. students, the government has been covering every activity of the institute.
He elucidated that space undertakings have been running by the Ethiopian government. Indeed, the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute consists of quite a lot of staff members at the moment.
The satellite is fitted with high-resolution camera; thus will send data on forest coverage, soil moisture, weather condition while it could be used to observe linear assets such as dams, roads, railroads and even to some extent to spot minerals, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr. Eng. Getahun Mekuria said at a press briefing on Sunday.
“In addition to saving the outflow of foreign currency to purchase data from foreign transboundry satellite sources, we can also earn foreign currency by rendering services to surrounding countries,” he added.
“Once operational the satellite is expected to save Ethiopia around 350 million Birr (about 11 million U.S. dollars) annually it currently spends to receive information from satellites owned by other countries,” Mekuria told Xinhua.
The satellite will be carried by long march 4d rocket, whilest the launching is a 99th one in 2019 worldwide, according to the Minister.
A high-level delegation comprising five members from parliament and other members from the Ministry of Innovation and Technology as well as Ethiopian Space Science & Technology Institute and Journalists will witness the launching in China at a station
which is 500 kms. away from the capital Beijing. The acronym ETRSS-1 stands for Ethiopian Remote Sensing Satellite, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian Herald December 20/2019
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
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