Ghana y Uganda estrenan programa espacial.

Scientists at the Intelligence Space Systems Laboratory of the All Nations University in Koforidua, have launced the CanSat, a miniature satellite into space on Wednesday.

Joy News’ Fiifi Koomson who was at the space laboratory said the cylindrical CanSat probe measures about 5 inches in diameter and 8 inches in height, has a powerful camera attached to it.

The deployment of the satellite is a precursor to the launch of a conventional, bigger satellite in 2016.

The satellite will gather information on floods, oil spillages among others in its brief stay in space in its 200 yards (meters) int the air.

“We hope that this practical demonstration of what can be done by students like them will generate more enthusiasm, fire up their imagination to come up with more creative things, and show that it’s possible that they’ll one day be able to launch their own real satellite into orbit,” said Prosper Kofi Ashilevi, Director of the Ghana Space Science and Technology Center.

A main goal of the project is to bolster interest among students for Ghana’s space programme, which is behind those in several other sub-Saharan African countries, notably powerhouses Nigeria and South Africa.

Experts say Ghana is probably a good five years or more from developing its own operational satellites, which could one day be used to confront everything from natural disasters to the smuggling of natural resources.

Wednesday’s project starts with just a big balloon to carry aloft the miniature model of a satellite.

At the All Nations University on Wednesday, students and researchers hope to monitor images and other information sent from the model as it descends to the ground. Whether their CanSat clears 200 meters, however, is out of their hands.

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To many western nationals, Africa is synonymous with conflicts, wars, diseases, poor roads, corruption and general under-development. Story by Godfrey Olukya

When one mentions Uganda, it does not strike one as a country capable of making even a simple tool like a needle, let alone a vehicle.
However, this thinking was overturned when the East African nation produced the first electric car, the Kiira EV in 2010. According to Mr Paul Isaac Musasizi, the Project Manager of the Vehicle Design Mission at the state-owned Makerere University then, he said, “the car is ready.”
The Kiira EV has been tested for road and drive performance, alongside other parameters that include the ability to climb steep areas and the ability to pick up speed.
Now Uganda has added another innovation and is expected to be ahead of her neighbor Kenya, the regional economic power house, because it is soon launching the first space observer called Cadimella.
Briefing the country’s Vice-President, Edward Ssekandi, who inspected the launch pad of the space observer at Kimaka Airfield in Jinja, Capt. Chris Nsamba, the chief executive officer and founder of the African Space Research Program (ASRP), demonstrated how the space probe works while in orbit, as an assurance of the advancement in the complex space science by Uganda.
The team also demonstrated to the Vice-President how the space probe can be tracked using satellite in case it lands in another country.
Nsamba revealed that the space probe has self-defence and anti-time missile antiestéticatures which protect it from being hit by missiles destined to destroy it in case it passes the airspace of another country.
After its launch, they will put a mouse in it and will have it lifted to the stratosphere by a helium balloon.
“This has demonstrated that Ugandans can also participate in sophisticated programmes. This is impressive and the Government will support the association. I am going to brief the President about this,” the country’s vice president noted during the demonstration.
A space observatory is any instrument in outer space which is used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects.


Cadimella, the space observer that Uganda will soon launch
A large number of observatories have been launched into orbit, and most of them have greatly enhanced knowledge of the cosmos.
To Capt. Nsamba, the space probe is fitted with cameras with a wide angle fish-eye lens to be used in taking pictures of Uganda from space and other antiestéticatures on the planet. The others are a thermometer and Global Positioning System trackers.
“We shall send a mouse to space. :XX: If it comes back alive, it will miccionan that Uganda is able to send human beings into space and we shall embark on constructing a new space observer that a person can use,” Nsamba said.
“As the space probe orbits the planet, it will pick dust molecules for our laboratory research,” he noted.
His team had already launched a prototype test and was able to take some pictures while in space, one of the local dailies reported.
“Cadimella will orbit the space twice and come back with samples. In case it lands on water, they can command it back to the surface,” the daily reported.
ASRP has a core representation in Dallas, US, which handles all international matters outside Africa.
The space probe will be used to scan meteoroids and asteroids closest to earth’s orbit.
However, like other initiatives, Uganda’s scientists have met some challenges including funding and infrastructure for the space technology. :XX:
Nsamba said they faced challenges like building the mother board, and with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which had prevented them from flying it due to space laws. :XX:
Whereas some observers hailed the development, others are skeptical.
“Good job gentlemen. I salute you all in the name of our country. That’s what we want to hear other than buying armored …” said a commentator.
“Is this April Fool’s Day or just a funny joke? I know there is a saying that ‘it’s not rocket science’ but you definitely need rocket science to put such equipment into space,” another tweeted.
Another tweet: “Please prove this is the Pearl of Africa. We are tired of negative stories all the time. Most Ugandans are disgusted with monotonous political rhetoric these days.”

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