BOTSAT‑1

Summary

BOTSAT-1 is the first satellite developed and operated by Botswana. It was launched on 15 March 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-13 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. BOTSAT-1 is a 3U CubeSat built by Bulgarian satellite manufacturer EnduroSat in collaboration with engineers from the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST). It carries a hyperspectral imaging payload and supports applications in agriculture, environmental monitoring, mineral mapping, and urban planning. Its launch brought Africa's total satellite count to 65.