The GAINDESAT-1a satellite was launched on August 16 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the United States.

Another 115 small satellites were also carried as part of the Transporter 11 space mission.

“This is an “important step and a historic day in the march of our country and the will to make it a space nation,” said Maram Kaire, director of Senegal’s space agency.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye hailed X as “the fruit of 5 years of hard work by our engineers and technicians”. According to him, “this breakthrough is an important step towards our technological sovereignty.”

GAINDESAT-1a could be used for a variety of tasks, including Earth observation, communications and scientific research.