Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) announced on Tuesday, April 11, that the launch of Kenya’s first satellite dubbed ‘Taifa one satellite' would suffer delay.
In a notice through the Kenya Space Agency (KSA), the American spacecraft manufacturer stated that there would be a 24-hour delay to the launch originally scheduled to take place on April 11.
While giving the reason for the delay, Space X noted that the weather conditions were not favourable for the project and would affect the rocket’s flight.
"This is to inform the Kenyan public that Space X has announced a 24-hour delay for the launch of the Falcon 9 Transporter 7 Mission earlier scheduled for Tuesday, April 11, at 9:44 am.
“This has been occasioned by unfavourable upper-level wind conditions that would affect the rocket’s flight trajectory,” the notice read in part.
The statement further showed that the delay was likely to affect other satellites from other countries scheduled to launch on the same day through the Transporter7 Rideshare Mission.
“The delay affects the anticipated launch of Taifa one satellite alongside other satellites from other countries,” the notice added.
SpaceX, as a result, scheduled the launch for Wednesday, April 12 at 9:44 am.
The satellite, which was designed to tackle severe drought, wildfires, and natural disasters that have devastating impacts on East Africa Community (EAC), will be the first of its kind in the country.
“Taifa 1 will provide the critical multi-spectral imagery of Kenya needed for applications in agriculture, security, land use/land cover, forestry resources and disaster management to help combat these conditions,” KSA stated on April 3.
The satellite was created by KSA with the assistance of Exolaunch, a German provider of global launch, and integration.
SpaceX is an American spacecraft manufacturer, launcher, and satellite communications corporation headquartered in Hawthorne, California.
