Ivory Coast in orbit

Côte d’Ivoire has taken a big step forward in its acquisition of space technology. The Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) has announced victory in the eighth edition of the KiboCUBE space programme, in partnership with the Dar es Salaam Polytechnic in Tanzania.

The Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) is a public higher education, research and production institution located in Yamoussoukro. It brings together nine higher education schools and numerous training and research departments (DFR) with around 3,000 students. This success confirms Current momentum in higher education and research institutions in Côte d’Ivoire.

The KiboCUBE project was initiated by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as part of a collaborative initiative between the United Nations and Japan on the deployment of CubeSats.

A joint team from INP-HB and Dar es Salaam Polytechnic will build TanSat-1, a 1U cubesat measuring 10cm x 10cm x 11.35cm and weighing 1.3kg. The satellite is designed to enhance technological capabilities and demonstrate IoT data collection, information relay and image acquisition. The mission highlights the growing space capabilities of Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire.

Prioritize Sustainable Development Goals

The CubeSat will be used to track GPS tags in wildlife reserves and collect environmental data through sensors. The project aims to improve biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation efforts, thereby contributing to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This priority is in line with Côte d’Ivoire’s Protecting the environment while ensuring development.

The KiboCUBE program has enabled five countries – Kenya, Guatemala, Mauritius, Moldova and Indonesia – to become spacefaring nations through satellite launches. This launch is often the catalyst for the creation of space agencies, the development of national laws and the start of a space economy.

Space Priorities for Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania

The collaboration, the first between Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire, will see the deployment of a satellite that will expand access to space technology for emerging countries. “The Ivorian Polytechnic National Felix Houphouet-Boigny (INP-HB) is proud to have won the eighth KiboCUBE project together with the Dar es Salaam Polytechnic. The collaboration with Tanzania reflects the African Union’s vision to promote the development of space technology capabilities through cooperation,” said Moussa Abdoul-Kader Diaby, Director General of INP-HB, an Ecofin agency.