“The deployment of our nanosatellite is undoubtedly a technological advancement for the country and reflects our vision of a knowledge and innovation-based economy. We are investing in the economy of the future, which will be powered by data and connectivity but also by the creative energy of our youth. This opens new opportunities in terms of economic activity, job creation and technology-based solutions to address our sustainable development challenges. I wish our very first space project every success”, the Prime Minister said.
Minister Deepak Balgobin, for his part, stated: “This nanosatellite opens up a new historical chapter in the technological development of Mauritius. This achievement will be a tangible springboard, not only to boost Innovation and Technology Development in our country but will be instrumental to inculcate innovation at grassroots level. New avenues are now opening up to us and we can contemplate the possibilities space technologies offer as a new socio-economic pillar.”
The nanosatellite project has been designed and executed by a team of scientists from the MRIC that operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation. MRIC researchers won the “KiboCUBE Program” organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in 2018. They were, thus, given the opportunity to develop the nanosatellite and the annexed facilities under the technical guidance of those international agencies.
The Prime Minister who hopes that new technologies and innovation will enable young Mauritians to take an interest in science and related subjects. According to Pravind Jugnauth, the future depends on innovation and technology.
As a reminder, the very first Mauritian satellite, a project of the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council, was built by teams composed of aerospace engineers, computer scientists and electronic engineers.
A team of Mauritian experts built a ground station, which will receive all the data from the satellite. The station is based at the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council in Ebène. The data collected from the satellite will then be made available to universities and students to be used for research purposes.
The rocket carrying the nano-satellite left Earth on 3 June from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The main objective of the MIR-SAT1 mission (Mauritius Imagery and Radiocommunications Satellite -1), is to acquire technologies, knowledge and skills for other space projects. The nanosatellite which is equipped with an X-CAM-C3D camera will also be responsible for capturing images of Mauritius. The “Ground Station” which has been set up at the MRIC premises in Ebène will receive data from the nanocraft.
The data will be used for various purposes, including maritime surveillance of Mauritius’ vast exclusive economic zone, climate change adaptation, weather forecasting and road traffic management.
The construction of MIR-SAT1 was fully funded by the government of Mauritius. Its construction was undertaken by the Scottish company AAC Clyde Space.
