20 January 2026
Senegal is set to launch a second satellite, named GAINDESAT-1B, in 2026, according to an announcement made in Dakar by Professor Gayane Faye, the coordinator of the Senegal Satellite Project (SENSAT). 
The announcement was made during the inaugural lecture marking the start of the 2025-2026 academic year at the Center for Advanced Studies in Defense and Security (CHEDS).
This new satellite will build on the success of its predecessor, GAINDESAT-1A, the first Senegalese satellite successfully launched in August 2024 from the American Vandenberg Air Force Base. GAINDESAT-1A is a 1U CubeSat dedicated to environmental data collection and imaging, vital for natural resource management, territorial monitoring, and climate observation.
The satellite project is part of a broader initiative to develop local expertise in space technology. Senegal plans to establish a doctoral program in space research at CHEDS, targeting officers, security professionals, and researchers. The goal is to ensure that scientific research aligns more closely with the operational needs of the state.
With the launch of GAINDESAT-1B, Senegal aims to enhance its capabilities in the space sector, which is increasingly viewed as a strategic tool for sovereignty and national security. Gayane Faye emphasized that “it is impossible today to talk about defense without referring to space,” highlighting the critical role these technologies play in monitoring seas, cities, and borders.
