Tunisia Launches its First Satellite

Mohamed Frikha, CEO of the Tunisian aerospace company TELNET, led Tunisia to launch its first domestically produced satellite. (Wikimedia Commons)

Tunisia launched its first domestically manufactured satellite, Challenge ONE, on March 22 using the Russian Soyuz-2.1, a rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch of Challenge ONE makes Tunisia the sixth African country that has manufactured and successfully launched its own satellite. 

A First Step

Tunisian aerospace company TELNET first announced the launch of Challenge ONE in 2019. The telecommunications giant formed an agreement with GK Launch Services, the operator of the Soyuz-2 launches from Russian ports, with a commitment to manufacturing and launching a series of 30 satellites by 2023. 

Challenge ONE specializes in the Internet of Things technology (IoT), which could be used to expand communications networks, remotely activate solar panels, or track the movement of livestock from space. 

TELNET CEO Mohamed Frikha described the satellite as “an innovative service for the region in a rapidly expanding field.”

Frikha also said, “In the world, countries are valued by two things: by democracy and by technology. I think that in Tunisia we have potential. I am personally convinced of that and justifiably this project will give a very good image of Tunisia in the world and it will also give Tunisians the confidence that we are capable of becoming one of the leaders of technology.”

Challenge ONE is Africa’s first satellite of 2021, marking an important step in the expansion of Tunisian technological development. 

Hopes for the Future

Tunisian President Kais Saied joined the TELNET engineers to celebrate the historic launch. "This event reflects the aspiration of Tunisia and young Tunisians to exceed the limits of the earth," he said. 

Tunisia has faced a series of economic and socio-political challenges along with recent anti-government protests. Saied hopes that the aeronautical center development will inspire young Tunisians. "Our real wealth is the youth who can face obstacles," Saied said. 

Frikha also stated that the project will create "local job prospects for Tunisian engineers."

"Job opportunities exist in Tunisia. The problem is to make young engineers want to stay,” he added.

Frikha hopes that the launch will help build an African network in space. “Now we want to share this knowledge with other African countries. And we want to encourage other countries to launch their own satellites,” he said.