This advanced satellite, designed by TRL Space Rwanda, is equipped with innovative sensors capable of capturing high-resolution images across a wide color spectrum. The satellite will primarily provide accurate data for agriculture, including crop monitoring and soil analysis.
TRL Space Rwanda, a subsidiary of the Czech-based TRL Space, specializes in small satellites known as CubeSats. The company has been operating in Rwanda for three years and is headquartered at Norrsken House in Kigali.
Most of the engineers working with the company are Rwandans, having received training from European experts.
The satellite, weighing between 10 and 12 kilograms, measures 10 cm by 20 cm by 30 cm.
Construction began this week with a team of 20 engineers, including seven Rwandans. The project is scheduled for completion within the next 20 months, targeting a June 2026 launch date.
Upon completion, the satellite will be shipped to the United States, where it is expected to launch from either Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral in Florida, using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
Once in orbit, the satellite will operate at an altitude of 510 kilometers for five years, delivering crucial agricultural data. It may also support other sectors, including security and communication.
The Rwanda Space Agency (RSA) is currently setting up a data center to process the satellite's transmissions. The project has so far attracted an investment of $1 million (approximately Frw1.3 billion), with further investments expected as the project advances.
Petr Kapoum, CEO of TRL Space Rwanda, shared in an interview with IGIHE that the long-term goal is to launch a new satellite every year in Rwanda's name, ultimately creating a fleet of five satellites. He emphasized that the first launch would unlock numerous opportunities, both for commercial and non-profit applications.
TRL Space Rwanda has ambitious plans to position the country as a hub for small satellite manufacturing. The company is developing infrastructure, including research laboratories, to build and sell satellites to other African nations. Reports indicate that by January 2025, the necessary facilities for satellite assembly and testing will be complete.
Kapoum expressed optimism that Rwanda will become self-sufficient in satellite technology within the next five years, reducing reliance on foreign resources and establishing sustainable infrastructure.
Rwanda currently operates a "Teleport" facility, located in Mwurire, Rwamagana District, designed to receive satellite data. This 20-hectare facility is open to investors seeking to establish their own satellite ground stations.
Investors who prefer not to use Rwanda's facilities can install antennas at the Teleport, with RSA offering maintenance and essential services such as internet access.
The Teleport is expected to attract interest from countries and investors, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, providing them with the infrastructure to manage satellite missions.
RSA's CEO, Gaspard Twagirayezu, highlighted the sector's profitability, encouraging private investors to capitalize on the opportunities within Rwanda's growing space industry.
IGIHE
