(Ecofin Agency) - In July 2019, Rwanda may launch another satellite into low orbit. At least, the country is ready to take this step that will confirm its progress in space development.

The satellite, CubeSat, destined for space research, will collect data on water resources, natural disasters, agriculture and meteorology and transmit them to a control centre.

CubeSat, a 10X10 cm satellite weighing 1.2 kg, was officially presented on May 16, 2019, at the Transform Africa Summit and handed to Rwanda’s IT minister Paula Ingabire (photo).

“When we started shaping and designing our national space program, we knew building capacities were going to be a foundation. We have been working with different partners specifically the government of Japan and university of Tokyo,” the minister said.

According to the official, CubeSat is evidence of Rwanda’s progress in its space program and in honing the skills of its engineers.