BBC
Ghana has successfully launched
its first satellite into space.
GhanaSat-1, which was
developed by students at All Nations University in Koforidua, was sent into
orbit from the International Space Centre.
Cheers erupted as 400 people,
including the engineers, gathered in the southern Ghanaian city to watch live
pictures of the launch. The first signal was received shortly afterwards.
It is the culmination of a
two-year project, costing $50,000 (£40,000).
It received support from the
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The satellite will be used to
monitor Ghana's coastline for mapping purposes, and to build capacity in space
science and technology.
Project coordinator Dr Richard
Damoah said it marked a new beginning for the country.
"It has opened the door
for us to do a lot of activities from space," he told the BBC.
He said 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."
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