Zimbabwe is preparing to launch three new satellites, including an Earth observation satellite called ZimSat-2. This satellite is currently being developed with advanced features and should be launched later this year. The Government of Zimbabwe has also approved the development of two more satellites in the initial stages of production.
Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development, announced that Zimbabwe is cooperating with Japan. Japan is training Zimbabwean graduates to ensure the seamless integration of all moving parts and prepare the ground for Zimbabwe’s self-production of its satellites.
Zimbabwe is cooperating with Japan in the development of its space satellite. Ncube announced that they are moving to the second stage of creating another space satellite with the support of Japan. Japan trains its graduates in this field. They are also working on three more satellites that are on the way.
Mr Painos Gweme, Coordinator of the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINSGA), confirmed that they are working on the production, assembly, testing and launch of satellites in collaboration with various partners. Zimbabwe’s long-term goal is to produce its space satellites domestically. Concrete progress on the second satellite, ZimSat-2, is expected by June 2024. The joint research program is aimed at developing local human resources for the design, production, testing and launch of satellites. This also includes the installation of ground stations, data transmission via uplink and downlink, as well as monitoring and control of satellites throughout their stay in orbit. Specific information on the progress of the second satellite will be available by June this year.
The main purpose of Earth observation satellites is to provide scientific data on the current situation in the country. ZimSat-1 was an educational cubesat Earth observation satellite designed to map land use, vegetation cover, and water quality monitoring. The second satellite will also be an Earth observation satellite with more advanced sensors and improved image resolution compared to ZimSat-1. The ZimSat-2 project aims to develop local skills, transfer technology and provide landscape monitoring over the next two to four years. Gweme explained that this project is crucial to continue monitoring the landscape.
In 2022, Zimbabwe launched its first Earth observation satellite, ZimSat-1. This satellite transmits data from orbit to the command center of the Mazowe ground station and plays an important role in mapping agriculture and mining.
