TRL Space, a Czech Republic space exploration company, has said that it is building the first hyperspectral satellite in Rwanda with plans to build five more in the future. TRL revealed that the 10-kilogram satellite will orbit the Earth at 510 kilometres once complete, transmitting data back to Rwanda Space Agency which will be accessible to different institutions. The company is investing in the local workforce, with seven engineers already working full-time, and aims to establish a laboratory and testing facilities by January. The satellite, expected to take around 20 months to complete, will launch from Florida in the U.S. using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. Hyperspectral satellites are light-weight pieces of hardware sent into orbit for earth observation purposes. They are technologically advanced satellites that enable us to get useful information about the world. As human beings, our perception is limited to what meets the eye. These satellites enable us to see beyond what our eyes can see. As technology evolves and becomes sophisticated, so does our capability to innovate and create solutions for some of the most complex problems that our traditional way of doing business could not afford us to do. Because these satellites are equipped with advanced sensors capable of capturing images across a wide range of spectrum, they are able to collect data in hundreds or even thousands of narrow bands, providing a much more detailed spectral analysis. This is a remarkable fit because scientists and policymakers can now make informed and precise decisions in almost every industry. Take agriculture for example, Rwanda’s agriculture sector faces a myriad of challenges, ranging from soil degradation, unpredictable rainfall patterns, droughts, and landslides, to floods, crop infestations and diseases. Hyperspectral satellites offer new possibilities. Hyperspectral data can be used to assess soil nutrient levels, identify areas of degradation, help in early detection of crop stress, and they can help identify and monitor the spread of diseases and pests. With this, these advanced satellite technologies can transform the agriculture sector. But they can also offer new solutions to mineral exploration, environmental monitoring, as well as defence and security. It’s now the right time to deliberately support developers of these technologies and invest in skills transfer such as training young people to become future engineers.
