Kenya on Saturday marked a new milestone in space exploration by launching its first satellite, called " Teva-1 ", into space after three failed attempts linked to bad weather.

The monitoring satellite, developed by nine Kenyan engineers, was launched aboard a SpaceX "Falcon-9" full-thrust rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in the United States.

The Kenya Space Agency described the launch of "Taifa-1" as a historic milestone, amid efforts to harness space science to address current environmental challenges such as the climate crisis. And "taifa" is a Swahili word that means "nation" in English.

Alois Weir, an aeronautical engineer and deputy director of navigation and positioning at the Kenya Space Agency, said the satellite would capture and transmit images that would help respond to climate shocks as it orbited in space.

In addition, the Teva-1 satellite, which was assembled with the help of the Bulgarian space company Endurosat at a cost of 50 million shillings (about 372,000 U.S. dollars) over two years, will also enhance forest monitoring and urbanization, the agency said. Kenyan space.

The Kenya Space Agency noted that the satellite will also collect agricultural data, monitor forest fires and assist local efforts to combat food insecurity while enhancing disaster management.

The launch, after three failed attempts last week linked to unfavorable upper wind conditions, according to the Kenya Space Agency, is expected to reinvigorate space exploration efforts in Africa.

According to local media reports, Egypt was the first African country to send a satellite into space in 1998, while in 2018 Kenya launched the first experimental nanosatellite from the International Space Station.

By 2022, at least 13 African countries will have manufactured 48 satellites, according to Space Africa, a Nigeria-based organization that tracks the progress of space programs on the continent.

The Foundation stated that so far, more than 50 African satellites have been launched until November 2022, although none of them were launched from the continent’s lands, indicating that in January, the Djibouti government signed an agreement with a Hong Kong-based company to build a commercial spaceport at a cost of one billion dollars. American, as it is expected to take 5 years to complete its completion.