#DidYouKnow Zimbabwe has successfully launched two satellites into space, joining the growing list of African nations embracing space technology? The first satellite, ZimSat-1, was launched in 2022 with help from Japan, and the second, ZimSat-2, followed in 2024 through a partnership with Russia. These efforts are led by the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA).

Zimbabwe’s space program is a monumental step for a country not typically associated with space exploration. ZINGSA was established in 2018 to harness satellite technology for farming, mining, disaster preparedness, and urban planning.

Satellites orbit larger bodies due to gravity. Natural satellites like the moon exist in nature, while artificial satellites are human-made. They operate in a vacuum known as space, which starts roughly 100km above Earth. Satellites transmit signals back to Earth, powering systems like GPS and Starlink internet.

Dandaro Online, Zimbabwe Did You Know