Senegal prepares to Launch its First Satellite, GAINDESAT
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Developed by the Senegalese Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation in partnership with the Space Centre of the University of Montpellier (CSUM) and coordinated by Gayane Faye, the satellite's main mission will be to retrieve in situ data from the government's meteorological and hydrological services four times a day.
In November 2023, Djibouti launched its first satellite as part of a partnership with CSUM and with the same objectives of developing the country's capacity for in situ data acquisition, indigenous design, and manufacturing. In March 2021, Russia launched Tunisia's ChallengeOne, a domestically developed satellite designed to collect in situ data.
Why are in situ data so important? In situ data increase the accuracy and reliability of Earth observation data by enriching them with direct measurements of the phenomena being studied. They capture local characteristics more accurately, help validate models and simulations generated from Earth observation data, improve real-time monitoring of environmental phenomena, weather conditions, and biological processes, and enable appropriate decision-making. They also enable the identification of long-term trends and the adaptation of solutions to specific local needs.