Tonight, SpaceX successfully launched GAINDESAT-1A, Senegal’s first satellite, marking a major milestone for the country. The event took place in the evening, starting at 6:30 p.m., and could be followed live on the SpaceX website.

The project, initiated in 2019 by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI), was carried out with the support of astronaut Maram KAIRÉ. Its objective is to propel Senegal into the restricted circle of nations with their own satellite .

The GAINDESAT-1A launch is part of SpaceX’s Transporter-11 mission. The mission uses a Falcon 9 rocket to carry 116 payloads to low Earth orbit. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Station in California at 11:56 a.m. PT, with multiple launch slots available if needed.

The mission was broadcast live, allowing the public to follow this historic step forward for Senegal.