Science & Tech · Space · 5 hrs ago
KAIST’s satellite expertise expands to Kenya and Kazakhstan
KAIST began developing satellites in South Korea after sending young researchers to Britain to learn the technology in 1989.
Their work led to KITSAT-1, launched in 1992, and later satellites developed in South Korea.
KAIST led development of five NEONSAT satellites carried as the main payload on a Nuri rocket launched from South Korea on October 7.
The university has also trained researchers from the United Arab Emirates, which had little space expertise or infrastructure when it sought help.
UAE teams went on to build satellites and the Amal Mars probe, which entered Mars orbit in February 2021.
KAIST is now sharing its university model with other countries: Kenya’s first research-focused university, Kenya-AIST, opened in May, and South Korea and Kazakhstan agreed last month to work on establishing a similar institution there.
Kenya-AIST has begun its first academic programme, while work to lay the foundations for the Kazakhstan university is planned through cooperation between the two governments.
KAIST’s satellite expertise is informing new science and technology institutes in Kenya and Kazakhstan.
Kenya-AIST was launched in May, and Kenya’s president awarded it its university charter.
South Korea and Kazakhstan agreed last month to cooperate on building the foundations for a Kazakhstan institute modeled on KAIST.
KAIST has led satellite development projects since South Korea’s first satellite, Woori-byul 1, launched in 1992.
The institute also trained Emirati engineers who later helped develop the UAE’s Mars probe, which entered Mars orbit in 2021.
- Who
- KAIST, Kenya and Kazakhstan. The UAE is also cited as an earlier example of KAIST sharing satellite expertise.
- What
- Kenya and Kazakhstan are establishing science and technology institutes modeled on KAIST, while KAIST shares its experience and expertise.
- When
- Kenya-AIST was launched in May this year. South Korea and Kazakhstan agreed to cooperate last month.
- Where
- Kenya and Kazakhstan; Kenya-AIST is in Konza Technopolis near Nairobi.
- Why
- The countries are drawing on the KAIST model and its experience in science, technology and satellite development.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
KAIST established its satellite research center and sent five recent graduates to the University of Surrey in the UK to learn satellite design.
Woori-byul 1 launched from Kourou in French Guiana, making South Korea the world’s 22nd country to have a satellite.
The Kenya-AIST campus was completed in Konza Technopolis near Nairobi.
Kenya’s president presented Kenya-AIST with its university charter, making it the country’s first research-focused university.
South Korea and Kazakhstan agreed to cooperate on building the foundations for a Kazakhstan science and technology institute modeled on KAIST.
- First South Korean satellite
- Woori-byul 1
- Woori-byul 1 launch
- August 11, 1992
- Kenya-AIST campus
- Konza Technopolis, near Nairobi
- Kenya-AIST launch
- May this year
- Kazakhstan institute
- Modeled on KAIST
- UAE Mars probe
- Amal entered Mars orbit in February 2021
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What people are saying
Now it is time to share that learning with the world and grow together.
Because South Korea also brought technology from the UK and became self-reliant.
The learning of Korean youths who stayed up all night in a British laboratory in 1989 became a Mars probe for a desert country a generation later.