3rd Jul 2024

BOTSAT-1 To Become Botswana’s First Software-Defined Satellite

The mission will feature a hyperspectral camera payload and strengthen a partnership for space education

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 has been an exceptional partner in our journey to launch Botswana's first satellite. Their expertise and support have been invaluable, and we are excited about the progress we have made together. This partnership brings us closer to realizing our shared vision and underscores the strength of our mutual commitment to advancing space technology in Botswana.’’

Professor Otlogetswe Totolo

Vice Chancellor of the Botswana International University of Science & Technology (BIUST)

‘’BIUST has an enormous potential for growth, and I am proud that they have chosen to partner with EnduroSat in this journey. Their team is incredibly dedicated and focused on making a positive impact. The fact that their organization has a long-term strategic growth vision, and that they are following it strictly, will enable them to build a formidable space program.’’

Raycho Raychev

Founder and CEO, EnduroSat

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.

Working on high-quality space data? EnduroSat story presented by Dr. Victor Danchev in Naval Academy Planetarium