The Malindi space station played a pivotal role as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration( NASA) launched a historic telescope into space.
In a statement released by NASA on Saturday, December 25, the space agency stated that the Italian-owned space station based at the Kenyan coastal town would help them communicate with the James Webb Space Telescope which was launched in French Guiana, South America.
NASA further stated that the station would be the first station to make the first communication contact with the telescope as scientists hope to study the universe even as the telescope travels for over one million kilometers in space.
“The observatory was released at an altitude of approximately 1,400 kilometers. Approximately 30 minutes after launch, Webb unfolded its solar array, and mission managers confirmed that the solar array was providing power to the observatory.
"After solar array deployment, mission operators will establish a communications link with the observatory via the Malindi ground station in Kenya, and ground control at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore will send the first commands to the spacecraft," read the statement in part.
With the help of the 10-meter transmitter in Malindi, scientists at NASA were able to receive the first signal from the Webb telescope through the Malindi station.
Despite making the first contact with the Telescope, the station will continue serving as a backup even as the other space stations join in to help in relaying information from the telescope.
“At first, the ESA station will be in a “private call” with Webb for the first hour after separation, after which NASA’s Deep Space Antenna in Canberra, Australia, will join the call. Malindi will [then] switch to the backup,” read the statement in part.
On his part associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA, Thomas Zurbechen, stated that the launch of the Telescope was revolutionary for researchers all over the world.
“I want to congratulate the team on this incredible achievement Webb’s launch marks a significant moment not only for NASA, but for thousands of people worldwide who dedicated their time and talent to this mission over the years.”
"Webb’s scientific promise is now closer than it ever has been. We are poised on the edge of a truly exciting time of discovery, of things we’ve never before seen or imagined,” Zurbuchen stated.
The Malindi space station is famously known as the Luigi Broglio Space Center (BSC) and is owned by Italian space enthusiast Luigi Broglio in 1964.
Since its establishment over 20 rockets have been launched from the station.
