South Africa gets first satellite images

South Africa has received the first images from its Sumbandila satellite. Sumbandila means “lead the way” in one of South Africa’s indigenous languages, Tshivenda. Using that theme, South Africa’s Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor said South Africans must never be shy to compete against the best countries in the world. She was speaking after witnessing the first images from the craft at a satellite applications centre in Brits, 50 km northwest of Johannesburg.

Pandor said the project was important for the country to advance. SumbandilSAT weighs 81 kg and carries a 6.25-meter ground sampling distance. This is the second satellite the country has launched in 11 years.

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