Ethiopia launched its first-ever Remote Sensing Satellite, ET-RSS-1 to space from China on Friday December 20, 2019 at 3:21GMT.
The 72 kg multi-spectral remote sensing satellite blasted off into space from China, with its ground station located at the Entoto space observatory facility in Ethiopia.
With the launching of the ETRSS-1, Ethiopia has now joined the other African countries in the space exploration to accelerate its development and growth plans.
An Ethiopian delegation comprises of high level officials from the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Members of Parliament, Ethiopian scientists witnessed the Ethiopian satellite going to space from China.
The Ethiopian ministry of defence fired 21 gun salutes as the nation launched the Satellite.
The 72kg multi-spectral remote sensing satellite of Ethiopia was the 99th satellites that were launched in 2019 by world countries.
The satellite with mainly observational purpose is expected to provide all the necessary data on climate change and weather-related phenomena that would be used for agriculture, forestry, and natural resources conservation activities.
The satellite will be positioned at 80-degree latitude around Ethiopia and east and West African countries.
The satellite will arrive at its orbit after travelling 700 km in 30 minutes. It will begin sending information immediately, it is learned.
Ethiopian space scientists will have complete command and control role over ET-RSS1 at the Entoto space observatory facility located on the outskirt of Addis Ababa.
High level government officials, religious fathers, regional presidents and space scientists attended the monitoring and controlling activities of the satellite at the Entoto space observatory facility.
MG/abj/APA