Nation to expand space projects

Remember Deketeke-Herald Reporter

Zimbabwe is poised to expand its space programme through a partnership with Russia’s Southwest State University, following the successful launch of its first two satellites, ZimSat-1 and ZimSat-2.

In an interview, advisor and senior researcher at Southwest State University Mr Ivan Ivanov said the collaboration was expected to facilitate future satellite launches.

“This project could not have been realised without strong diplomatic relations between Zimbabwe and Russia,” he noted.

He added that the launch of ZimSat-2, which was part of the payload on a Russian launcher, served as a critical diplomatic tool to further strengthen ties between the two nations.

Mr Ivanov emphasised the importance of having more satellites for Zimbabwe.

“These satellites will significantly enhance the country’s ability to monitor crops, detect extreme weather events like floods and tropical cyclones, and improve telecommunications in remote areas, which is a top priority for the Government,” he said.

ZimSat-1, the country’s first Earth observation CubeSat, was deployed in November last year, followed by ZimSat-2 on November 5, 2024.

ZimSat-2 is designed to provide vital data for agriculture, geology, urban planning and climate monitoring.

Zimbabwe joins a select group of African nations, including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda, that have operational satellites in orbit.

Currently, the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency is finalising upgrades to its satellite ground control station at the Mazowe Earth Station to improve its capacity to receive data from the new satellites.