Successful Deployment of First Kenyan Satellite,

selected as First KiboCUBE programme of UNOOSA and JAXA



May 11, 2018 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)

On May 11, 2018, the first CubeSat developed under the KiboCUBE programme has been successfully deployed from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” of the International Space Station. This CubeSat, named “1KUNS-PF” was developed by a team from the University of Nairobi. On the day of the deployment, H.E. Dr. Amina C. Mohamed (the Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Education in Kenya), H.E. Mr. Solomon K. Maina (the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for Embassy of the Republic of Kenya), Dr. Vijoo Rattansi (Chancellor for the University of Nairobi), representatives from the University of Nairobi and the Japanese government watched the deployment of the CubeSat from the “Kibo” Mission Control Room in Tsukuba Space Center.



1KUNS-PF was developed as Kenya's first satellite, and the University of Nairobi will operate the CubeSat after its deployment from "Kibo". The experience and technology acquired from the development of this CubeSat will be applied in future earth observation satellite of Kenya.



KiboCUBE is a cooperative programme between UNOOSA and JAXA to offer opportunity to deploy CubeSats from "Kibo". This programme aims to improve space technology of the developing and emerging space nations of the United Nations member states. The third round of application was closed this March, and UNOOSA and JAXA are under the selection process. The result of the third round of application will be announced this summer timeframe.

Schedule of 1KUNS-PF (1st Kenyan University Nano Satellite-Precursor Flight)

August, 2016: Selected as first round of KiboCUBE

January 16th, 2018: Handover to JAXA

April 2nd, 2018: Launch to the ISS

May 11th, 2018: Deployment from "Kibo" using JEM robotic arm

Photo of deployment of 1KUNS-PF(Kenya) and Irazu (Costa Rica) (deployed at the same time)

Photo of Kibo Mission Control Room

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Comments

Koichi Wakata, Director General, JAXA Human Spaceflight JAXA

Congratulations on the successful deployment of the first satellite of the Republic of Kenya from the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo"! I hope this successful first step of satellite deployment as technology demonstration will lead to the next stage of satellite missions from the Republic of Kenya. The CubeSat (1 KUNS-PF) of the University of Nairobi of the Republic of Kenya which was deployed today is the first KiboCUBE jointly selected by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and JAXA. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to UNOOSA for their tireless effort in preparing for this joint mission, and I look forward to further extending the cooperation between the two organizations. I am proud that we are contributing to Kenya's emerging space technology through the CubeSat deployment mission utilizing the unique capability of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" on the International Space Station.

Simonetta Di Pippo, UNOOSA Director

This first KiboCUBE satellite brilliantly represents our mission at the Office for Outer Space Affairs: bringing the benefits of space to everyone, everywhere. It is fantastic to see the team from the University of Nairobi build and employ space technology, and it is an important step for Kenya in developing its own skills, experience and infrastructure to access and enjoy the benefits of space. Congratulations to everyone involved in reaching this important milestone today. I also extend my continued appreciation to JAXA for their ongoing support to the KiboCUBE programme and to UNOOSA.

This is also an important day for UNOOSA as it is the first time that space hardware has been deployed as part of our capacity-building activities. It is an exciting step for us in the development of our efforts to bring access to space to all of humankind.

Prof. Peter Mbithi, Vice Chancellor of University of Nairobi