05 Mar 2025

The development of the Botswana Satellite (BOTSAT-1) is set to be a game changer in provision of data essential to drive economic development and timely interventions in key sectors of the economy.

This was said by the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) Vice Chancellor, Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, in an interview ahead of the launch of BOTSAT 1 scheduled to take place sometimes this week in California.

He said in the absence of a satellite, Botswana was spending huge amounts of money on imported data from external satellites. With the increase use of satellite images needed for mineral exploration and urban planning among other things, he said, it was high time Botswana owned a satellite.

To this end, he said BIUST saw the need to leverage the university’s highly qualified engineers and scientist lectures to develop the satellite.

‘This prompted BIUST to invest in research to provide such solutions in the form of satellite technology,” he said.

In that regard, he said the inaugural enrolment of eight post graduate students in space science and satellite technology in the Faculty of Engineering was the beginning of the hard work, pulling professionals in different fields of work, who collaborated to come up with a satellite customised for Botswana’s unique problems.

“This is also a testament that BIUST as a science institution is capable to provide solutions that can contribute to the development agenda by developing the first satellite. Some of these students are currently working as engineers in BOTSAT-1,” he said.

Through the development of BOTSAT-1, Prof. Totolo said Botswana would be in a safe space to minimise economic losses and that the harnessing of space data was crucial in contributing to the country’s development goals.

Besides economic benefits, he said the satellite brought about a direct investment in Batswana’s quality of life, ensuring better resource management, environmental protection and was also critical in creating new opportunities that could drive innovation and entrepreneurship.

He said the innovation would further serve as a springboard to commercialise satellite data and generate income for the country.

Among other things, Prof Totolo said the benefits of having own satellite would bring about information that would be used to support disaster management through real-time environmental monitoring for floods, droughts, and wildfires.
The satellite would further be used to enhance mining operations by providing high-resolution geological data for exploration and sustainability. ENDS