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New satellite to support Rwanda’s agricultural research launched into orbit

By IGIHE
On 15 January 2025 at 03:57

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 131 satellites from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 9:09 PM Kigali time on January 14, 2025.

Among these was TROLL, a satellite developed by the Czech Republic’s TRL Space, which specializes in small CubeSat satellites. TRL Space also operates a branch in Rwanda, TRL Space Rwanda.

The TROLL satellite will orbit Earth in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) region, approximately 2,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, a common orbit due to its proximity to Earth.
While in orbit, TROLL will partner with the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) to gather valuable data on Rwandan crops, supporting research to enhance agricultural productivity.

Beyond Rwanda, the satellite will aid efforts to monitor deforestation and human activities that damage soil and water in the Czech Republic.

Through collaboration with the Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO), it will also collect data on rising temperatures and sea levels surrounding the Maldives.

The technology developed for TROLL will play a key role in the creation of a similar satellite being built in Rwanda.

The upcoming Rwandan satellite, equipped with advanced sensors that capture a wide colour spectrum, will provide precise data on crops, soil health, and other environmental factors.

According to Petr Kapoum, CEO of TRL Space Rwanda, the Rwandan satellite is expected to be completed by June 2026, 20 months after October 2024.

Once ready, it will be shipped to the United States for launch from either the Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral in Florida, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

This project highlights Rwanda’s growing role in space technology and its commitment to leveraging space innovations for sustainable agricultural and environmental solutions.

The TROLL satellite will help gather reliable information related to agriculture in Rwanda.
In Rwanda, a satellite similar to TROLL is also being developed, and it is expected to be launched into space in June 2026.

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