Sundaymail Editor
FOLLOWING the successful launch of Zimbabwe’s second satellite — ZimSat-2 — last year, the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) is gearing up for a series of new initiatives, including the launch of a third satellite.The Sunday Mail‘s DEBRA MATABVU spoke to the agency’s director-general, Mr PAINOS GWEME, on their plans for this year.
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Q: Zimbabwe recently launched its second satellite into space. Can you confirm whether ZimSat-2 has started transmitting data to the ground station?
A: Let me start by saying whenever a satellite has been launched into space it starts off with a period we call in-orbit testing, which is a period it takes for the satellite to stabilise and become usable for data transmission.
Coming to your question of whether it has started transmitting data yet, the answer is yes, the satellite is transmitting (downlinking) data and receiving commands (uplinking) using the Mazowe Ground Control Station.
Generally, every satellite will transmit data based on its payload and mission definition.
So, ZimSat-2 has been transmitting both mission data and telemetry data.
Telemetry data is for checking the health status of the satellite, while the mission data is for earth observation, which includes climate change detection and crop health.
Q: In 2022, the country launched its first satellite. How do the two satellites — ZimSat-1 and ZimSat-2 — complement each other?
A: We have so far launched two satellites into orbit and each satellite has a different mission.
ZimSat-1’s mission was earth observation at a spatial resolution of 80m.
ZimSat-2’s mission is also earth observation at a spatial resolution of 10m.
The two satellites’ missions are progressive and complementary, and we always use the next mission to improve on technology used, training required and services provided.
In every mission, we deliberately improve on the technology and training of our engineers to improve the services.
Also, in data validation, we have more datasets to compare from the two satellites; therefore, we can develop algorithms and test them on data transmitted from both satellites and establish the predictive accuracy of our algorithms and models.
Third, the two satellites have different payloads, hence their missions are different.
So, it means we receive more earth observation data with higher accuracy from ZimSat-2 than from ZimSat-1.
If we get data that does not meet the required resolution, we can validate it using ZimSat-2, which has better radiometric, spectral and spatial resolution than ZimSat-1.
Lastly, the two satellites help to increase the general footprint or country coverage per each given time.
Q: Last year, ZINGSA indicated that it was upgrading the Mazowe Ground Control Station to accommodate advanced frequency bands of the second satellite. Has ZINGSA completed the upgrade?
A: Indeed, ZINGSA has completed the upgrade at Mazowe from amateur radio to a full commercial grade ground station capable of receiving satellite signals from all satellites transmitting in L.S.X. bands, including UHF and VHF bands, and this came as a result of great support from the Government, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Dr ED Mnangagwa, without which it could have been difficult for us to achieve such huge milestones.
Q: The Government has announced plans to launch several satellites in the coming years. How many satellites is ZINGSA planning to launch this year? What are the key features and objectives of these satellites?
A: Indeed, we are working towards increasing the number of our satellites in orbit so that we move with time.
However, take note that satellite design, manufacture, test and launch into space are not an event.
There are several activities, processes and stakeholders involved.
However, our goal is not simply to launch satellites into space but to ensure that these satellites address the specific needs of Zimbabwe.
For instance, we currently lack real-time earth observation capabilities that provide updated satellite images every five to six hours. This data is crucial for crop yield analysis, monitoring soil erosion and assessing environmental changes.
When we want to send a satellite into space, there are basically four stages that are involved. Broadly, the first stage is mission definition.
This stage involves identifying the specific needs of Zimbabweans and determining whether satellite technology can effectively address them.
The findings inform the type of satellite to be designed.
Once a mission is defined, the second stage is satellite preliminary design, which is the process of designing the satellite that will be able to fulfil the mission requirements. It will include components required to build the satellite and their exact specifications.
This stage will also consider all aspects of the satellite’s life cycle and costs required.
The third stage is a critical design review, which is done to evaluate whether the satellite’s design, hardware, software and firmware are working properly to meet the performance requirements.
Finally, we have the flight readiness review, which is normally done after testing the satellite.
At this stage, an assessment is done to check if the satellite meets safety requirements by launcher and other regulatory laws.
Thus, we are currently working on ZimSat-3 and other satellites. These satellites are at various stages of production.
Q: What countries, in addition to its current partners, is ZINGSA exploring collaborations with for upcoming space projects, such as satellite launches or related technologies?
A: Yes, the field of space technology is a collaborative environment; it can never be a one-man band.
Further to that, Zimbabwe is a friend to all and enemy to none.
So, Zimbabwe has been collaborating with several countries across the region, continent and the entire globe.
We have collaborated with Japan on ZimSat-1, which was built and launched through collaborative research training between ZINGSA and the Kyushu Institute of Technology, supported by the Japanese space agency (JAXA).
The second satellite, ZimSat-2, was developed through collaborative research training between the South West State University and ZINGSA, supported by the Russian space agency (ROSCOSMOS).
Therefore, we look forward to working and collaborating with many other countries or agencies on the globe.
Q: Could you provide details on some of the current and upcoming spatial development projects that ZINGSA is coordinating with Government departments and agencies?
A: ZINGSA has been working with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works’ department of spatial planning to identify dysfunctional and illegal settlements in selected areas of interest.
The agency also works in collaboration with the Environmental Management Agency on environmental issues; the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development on agricultural issues; and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development on mine-related
issues.
The projects we have so far completed include the revision of the agro-ecological zones and the National Wetlands Master Plan.
Q: Given the predicted normal to above-normal rains for 2024/2025, has ZINGSA collected data on factors like the current crop situation to predict summer crop harvests? If so, what are the preliminary results?
A: For the 2024/2025 summer cropping season, ZINGSA is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands to come up with first quarter statistics of the crop status in Zimbabwe.
The data we have collected now is for August to part of December 2024.
It shows that we have two million hectares that we have prepared for cropping.
From those, we realised that 30 000 hectares were planted.
The next satellite assessment will be from January to March, which will give a detailed and more accurate assessment of the summer crop.
Q: Beyond the April 2024 report on illegal mining activities in and around Kwekwe, what other studies has ZINGSA conducted on similar issues in other Zimbabwean cities and towns?
A: We conducted a geophysical survey in Kwekwe in 2023 after an incident, when a classroom block at Globe and Phoenix Primary School collapsed into an underground shaft.
The aim of the survey was to map underground tunnels and/or cracks in Kwekwe town and give recommendations on the safety of people and infrastructure as far as mining activities are concerned.
The survey was done and communicated to the relevant authorities.
ZINGSA is now scheduled to conduct other similar surveys in all mining towns in Zimbabwe.
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