https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250412/gagarin-defied-all-odds-botswanas-space-chief-reflects-on-cosmonautics-day-1071798556.html
Gagarin Defied All Odds, Botswana's Space Chief Reflects on Cosmonautics Day
Gagarin Defied All Odds, Botswana's Space Chief Reflects on Cosmonautics Day
Sputnik Africa
From the USSR’s first human spaceflight to a Zambian teacher’s bold moon dream in the 60s, Africa’s space ambitions are gaining speed. Marking the United... 12.04.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-04-12T09:57+0200
2025-04-12T09:57+0200
2025-04-12T09:57+0200
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Gagarin Defied All Odds, Botswana's Space Chief Reflects on Cosmonautics Day
Sputnik Africa
From the USSR’s first human spaceflight to a Zambian teacher’s bold moon dream in the 60s, Africa’s space ambitions are gaining speed. Marking the United Nations International Day of Human Space Flight, Botswana’s recent launch spotlights the continent’s rising profile, as nations invest in space technology to drive development and digital growth.
When Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth in 1961, circling the planet in just 108 minutes, he didn’t just claim a victory for the Soviet Union, he fired the starting gun for a global space adventure. His courage sparked imaginations and inspired many worldwide, including in Africa, where a Zambian science teacher named Edward Makuka Nkoloso dreamed of sending an African astronaut to the moon. Though his grassroots program never left the ground, it captured international attention and symbolized Africa’s right to pursue the stars. Today, that early dream is becoming reality, with over 15 African countries building space programs and advancing satellite technologies. Botswana, for example, launched its first satellite, BotSat-1, in 2024 to boost earth observation and disaster management, proving that Africa is no longer a spectator but a rising contender in space exploration.As we celebrate Cosmonautics Day, African Currents interviewed Dr. Dimane Mpoeleng, Project Lead of BotSat-1 at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology, to discuss Yuri Gagarin’s historic feat, Africa’s early space ambitions, and how Botswana and the broader African continent are expanding their footprint in space exploration.To find out what else our guest had to say, tune in to the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents.
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podcasts, sputnik africa, yuri gagarin, soviet union (ussr), africa, botswana, space exploration, spacecraft, space, international space station (iss), central africa, east africa, north africa, southern africa, west africa, аудио
Gagarin Defied All Odds, Botswana's Space Chief Reflects on Cosmonautics Day
From the USSR’s first human spaceflight to a Zambian teacher’s bold moon dream in the 60s, Africa’s space ambitions are gaining speed. Marking the United Nations International Day of Human Space Flight, Botswana’s recent launch spotlights the continent’s rising profile, as nations invest in space technology to drive development and digital growth.
When Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth in 1961, circling the planet in just 108 minutes, he didn’t just claim a victory for the Soviet Union, he fired the starting gun for a global space adventure. His courage sparked imaginations and inspired many worldwide, including in Africa, where a Zambian science teacher named Edward Makuka Nkoloso dreamed of sending an African astronaut to the moon. Though his grassroots program never left the ground, it captured international attention and symbolized Africa’s right to pursue the stars.
Today, that early dream is becoming reality, with over 15 African countries building space programs and advancing satellite technologies. Botswana, for example, launched its first satellite, BotSat-1, in 2024 to boost earth observation and disaster management, proving that Africa is no longer a spectator but a rising contender in space exploration.
As we celebrate Cosmonautics Day, African Currents interviewed Dr. Dimane Mpoeleng, Project Lead of BotSat-1 at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology, to discuss Yuri Gagarin’s historic feat, Africa’s early space ambitions, and how Botswana and the broader African continent are expanding their footprint in space exploration.
"For him [Yuri Gagarin], it was technology backwardness, but he did it beyond all the limitations. So, it means that despite our political and socioeconomic status in Africa, we have the technology to actually do what he did then. This is an inspiration [...]. The space journey of Africa lies in the youth [...]. Botswana is a stunning story," Dr. Mpoeleng expressed.
To find out what else our guest had to say, tune in to the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents. 
