Zimbabwe Space Satellite ZIMSAT 1 Launched to Boost Agriculture, Here’s All You Must Know

Zimbabwe space satellite, ZIMSAT 1, was launched into space today by NASA. ZIMSAT-1 is Zimbabwe’s first nanosatellite launched with a mission to help boost agriculture. 

The rocket carrying a small satellite dubbed ZIMSAT-1 was launched from Virginia in the US yesterday. Less than a year after President Emmerson Mnangagwa took office following the military coup that removed long-time leader Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe began planning to launch the satellite. The launch of the satellite, which was hardly larger than a shoebox, prompted a lot of discussion on social media. Some praised the government for the accomplishment, while others made fun of the attempt.The primary objective of the BIRD5 project is to design, build, test, launch and operate Uganda and Zimbabwe’s first satellite.

NASA took to Twitter to make the announcement, “The coverage of our @NorthropGrumman #CRS18 resupply mission to the @Space_Station. Carrying everything from science to snacks, the Cygnus spacecraft is set to launch at 5:27 am ET (1027 UTC).”

Prof. Mthuli Ncube Minister of Finance, Zimbabwe took to Twitter to announce the launch and tweeted “Zimbabwe space satellite, ZIMSAT 1, was launched into space today by NASA. I announced it in the national budget statement 3 years ago, and it is now a reality. Looking forward to development and launching of ZIMSAT 2 in the future.”

"History unfolding. #ZimSat1 now space bound!" government spokesperson Nick Mangwana tweets.

In late September, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected Zimbabwe's economic growth to slump to around half of last year's levels due to growing fiscal instability and a drop in agricultural output.

Since Zimbabwe's economy has been in crisis for twenty years, many Zimbabweans have fled the country in pursuit of better opportunities. The government blames Western-imposed sanctions, and the economic woes, but critics fault Harare's mismanagement and corruption.

Now, why this satellite is important:

Nick Mangwana, Permanent Secy: Information Publicity & Broadcasting Svcs, Republic of Zimbabwe took to Twitter to explain the benefits of the satellite, claiming the following results:

• It will accelerate Mineral Mapping.

• Informs Infrastructure Management and Mapping.

• Will help with Weather forecasts and Disaster Monitoring.

• Not only this, but this tiny satellite will also help with Water Quality Management, Soil Fertility Management, Drought Predictions, and Landslides prediction.

ZIMSAT-1 will collect data on the following:

Soil Fertility Management:

The multispectral camera (BIRDS 5) is to be used to capture images of the member countries as well. To make an analysis of the nitrogen/fertility level of soil using GIS software.

Water Quality Assessment

The satellite images taken from the satellite can be used as a demonstration of water quality assessment using a 1U satellite with a spatial resolution of 100m.

Informs Infrastructure Management and Mapping

The satellite images taken by multispectral camera made by BIRDS 5 members with a spatial resolution of 100m shall be used to investigate land Use and covers such as crop health, soil adjusted vegetation index, cultivated area, and leaf chlorophyll index using NDVI Images.