Taifa 1: Bad Weather delays launch of Kenya's first operational satellite

According to Space Regulation Exploration and Utilization Acting Director Col Andrew Nyawade, the launch, which was scheduled for April 11, has been rescheduled for Friday, April 14.

Col Nyawade stated on Citizen TV's Daybreak show on Wednesday that it is critical to observe the atmospheric conditions before a launch, adding that it plays a critical role in achieving a successful dispatch into space.

"Yesterday it did not happen because there were strong winds in the upper atmosphere and caused the launch to be delayed," Nyawade said.

"Usually as the rocket ascends into space the wind conditions affect the stability of the rocket and to ensure that we have a successful launch we limit that risk by delaying the launch," he added.

"Today we also got an update that the launch has been delayed by a further two days so we anticipate it to be launched on the 14th."

The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) had announced that the satellite, which was built at a cost of Ksh.50 million, was to be launched in Vandenberg Base, California, USA aboard Falcon-9 Rocket owned by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX).

KSA's objective of sending the satellite into space is to provide precise and timely earth observation satellite data to stakeholders in the diverse fields of application including agriculture and food security.

The mission will also aim to "develop Kenya's technical capacity across the entire value chain of space technology development and applications."

Taifa-1 was built by a team of nine KSA engineers, including mechanical, aeronautical, space, and electronic engineers.

The team worked in collaboration with Endurosat AD, a Bulgarian aerospace manufacturer, that supplied the parts of the satellite body.

Speaking alongside Col Nyawade on the panel, Space Sector and Technology Development Director Charles Mwangi stated that the launch was best suited to take place in the United States because the provided conditions favored KSA and relevant stakeholders.

"We are doing what is called ride share so we have a number of satellites that are going to space together. Ours is a 3U [so] it's much smaller," said Mr. Mwangi. 

"When you have a number of satellites going into space they have to be aggregated together and they go up in one rocket."  

"We do not have a spaceport and hopefully in the coming years that is something that we would want to explore because we used to launch here between 1967 to 1988 in Ngomeni, Malindi."