BOTSAT-1 To Become Botswana’s First Software-Defined Satellite
![BOTSAT-1 mission](https://4ab03d90.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BotSat-1-2.jpg)
The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and EnduroSat are building together the country’s first satellite, BOTSAT-1. The satellite will launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission no earlier than February 2025.
BOTSAT-1 will directly benefit local agriculture and mining industries by using the onboard hyperspectral camera payload to provide key intelligence on the contents of grounds and soils. With this new space data, BIUST will be able to empower decision makers with the information for long term planning and investments.
True to EnduroSat’s commitment to democratizing space, this mission is designed to generate hands-on technical and mission operations experience in Botswana. Consequently, BIUST engineers will join the EnduroSat team in Sofia to complete the satellite’s assembly and payload integration. Furthermore, BIUST will take full advantage of the satellite’s software-flexible architecture via the SpaceOps software.
EnduroSat and BIUST’s collaboration will extend beyond the completion of the mission and help to make Botswana a space hub. The organizations will work to create exchange opportunities, based on EnduroSat’s newly founded Master’s Program in Space Engineering & Technology.