PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA TO SOON COMMISSION ZAMBIA’S $14 MILLION SPACE DATA STATION
…….As Government makes strides towards the commissioning of the Station
October 11, 2024
CHIBOMBO – In a significant leap towards integrating advanced technology for national development, the government has successfully completed the test phase of the US$14 million Ground Receiving Station in Chibombo District.
During the tour by Mr. Mutati, the facility, a unit under the National Remote Sensing Center, is already receiving vital data from space, which is being expertly analyzed to aid decision-making across multiple sectors.
Hon. Felix Mutati, Minister of Technology and Science, affirmed the completion and functionality of the Ground Receiving Station following a successful test phase.
In his remarks after touring the facility, Mutati emphasized President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology as a driver of economic and social development in Zambia.
“This station is already making a difference by enabling us to gather critical data. It is now helping our experts from the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU) analyze this information to inform key policies,” Mutati said.
The Ground Receiving Station is set to revolutionize how Zambia tackles issues in health, agriculture, mining, and climate prediction, among other sectors.
Access to space data will enable accurate resource mapping, weather forecasting, and potentially reveal new mineral deposits—a significant step for a country looking to optimize its natural resources.
The facility’s success is bolstered by partnerships with Swedish and American experts, alongside collaboration with Zambia’s leading universities and other international stakeholders.
Minister Mutati clarified that while Zambia does not have immediate plans to launch its own satellite, it will continue leveraging data from nations with satellites already in orbit.
A visiting astronaut, Christer Fuglesang, said accessing data from space has the potential to improve a country’s knowledge in many areas.
Professor Fuglesang, the first Swedish national to go to space under the European Space Agency, encouraged Zambians to study space science as it is a beneficial subject to mankind.
Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Swedish Embassy in Zambia, Paula Engwall, pledged the country’s support to Zambia in its efforts to have a thriving space program, noting the Ground Receiving Station as a major milestone in Zambia’s development agenda.
(C) THE FALCON
