How Ghana’s first satellite orbited for 714 days

As Ghana’s first satellite, GhanaSat-1 served as a technology demonstrator to build capacity in space science and technology in the country. It was also part of the Birds-1 project to help non-spacefaring countries develop indigenous space programs. GhanaSat-1 had a “Digital-Singer” mission to broadcast Ghana’s national anthem and other songs from space as an educational tool to promote STEM education in Ghanaian schools.

The Build

Three Ghanaian engineering students from All Nations University College (ANUC) in Koforidua, Ghana, in partnership with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) in Japan begun the idea of developing a space satellite with a mission of Technology demonstration and Earth observation. The GhanaSat-1 was a 1U CubeSat weighing 1 kg of dimentions 10 x 10 x 10 cm. The satellite was equiped with a low and high resolution cameras for monitoring Ghana’s coastline. In line with the earth observation aspect of the mission; GhanaSat1 measured atmospheric density and radiation effects on microprocessors.

The Purpose

The mission was lead in part by Dr. Richard Damoah, director of the Space Systems and Technology Lab at All Nations University College (ANUC), located in the southern Ghanaian city of Koforidua, developed the satellite as part of a two-year, collaborative project between ANUC and Kyushu Institute of Technology in Fukuoka, Japan. Dr. Damoah was also a professor of Morgan State University in United States and works on the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) program on behalf of the University . Engineers on the project were; Benjamin Bonsu, Ernest Matey, and Joseph Quansah from All Nations University, Ghana.

The demo and earth observation mission project cost around $500,000 to develop and launch. 24 months of planning and 22 months completion is what it took. The GhanaSat1 provided Provided data for coastal mapping and monitoring of environmental issues like illegal mining, oil spills, forest fires, and deforestation. The mission also re-sparked the long planning of the country’s founder towards space exploration, inspiring the next generation through educational outreach programs in Ghanaian schools. After the successful lunch of GhanaSat1; All Nations University envisions preparations towards GhanaSat2 with more broader aims.

GhanaSat-1 was Ghana’s first satellite launched into space on 3^rd of June, 2017 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the CRS-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). It was deployed from the ISS on 7^th of July, 2017.

As of the 22^nd of May 2019, GhanaSat1 is De-orbited. GhanaSat1 took images, collected atmospheric data, measured space radiation, and transmitted uploaded audio, mainly used to monitor Ghana’s coast. GhanaSat-1 was a historic achievement for Ghana, demonstrating the country’s potential in space technology. It opened up new possibilities for using satellite data to address pressing environmental and developmental challenges.

More Information ℹ

• Ghana’s first satellite now orbiting earth