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President Nana Akufo-Addo has congratulated the All Nations University College in Koforidua, Eastern Region, over the launch of
The statement also commended the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for its support in the satellite launch.
“In his broadcast message, relayed to the Space Station by Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister for Communications, the President, on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, expressed gratitude to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Birds Project Management Team for their support in Ghana’s quest to becoming a space faring nation," the statement said.
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He noted that the benefits for humankind played a major role in the socio-economic development of every country and today, Ghana is proud of the young Ghanaian engineers namely: Benjamin Bonsu (Project Manager), Ernest Matey and Joseph Quansah for this feat.
On Friday, Ghana launched its first space satellite into space from the International Space Station.
The launched happened in the US state of Florida on the June 3, 2017.
It was released to start its operation in orbit on June7, 2017.
The GhanaSat-1 was developed by students at the All Nation’s University College with support from JAXA.
Costing $500,000, the satellite will be used to monitor the nation’s coastline for mapping purposes, and to build capacity in space science and technology, the technical engineer of the GhanaSat-1 satellite, Ernest Matey, told Radio Ghana.
Hundreds of students gathered on the ANUC campus to witness the launch.
Project coordinator, Dr Richard Damoah, says it will open the door for other space activities.
He told the BBC that it could be used in the monitoring of illegal mining.
He said: “It has opened the door for us to do a lot of activities from space.
“[It would] also help us train the upcoming generation on how to apply satellites in different activities around our region.
“For instance, [monitoring] illegal mining is one of the things we are looking to accomplish.”