Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

Post by s1artibartfast » Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 4:58 AM UTC

concordDance wrote: post #71

pc86 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Sorry to go meta here, but this is just rude, both to OP and to other readers. ... You're essentially using the edit feature to end the conversation and ensure you have the final word. I've noticed this more and more, especially on more controversial topics (which this is certainly not). Adam makes a statement, Betty responds. Adam responds, and Betty edits her initial response and conversation ends, likely because…

Could also be because rate limiting. People need to conserve their number of posts per day.

Post by TomK32 » Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 5:13 AM UTC

notahacker wrote: post #4

echoangle wrote: post #2

Don’t want to belittle the achievement but they launched it as in „had it launched by the commercial launch provider SpaceX“, not on a self-developed rocket as it sounds like on the first read.

I mean basically everyone launches their first satellite using a third party launch provider which is usually SpaceX. If there's someone missing credit here it's Endurosat for providing the satellite bus and doing integration work, but the payload and operation which is the novel bit will be Botswanan. It's like you don't have to credit Linus Torvalds or Brendan Eich for their contributions to your first web service.…

Post by 0xDEAFBEAD » Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 6:16 AM UTC

scrappyjoe wrote: post #104

So many strong opinions here from commenters who aren’t actually from Botswana. Let me tell you how we actually feel about it here. We think it’s awesome! The establishment of a university of science and technology in Botswana has been a long hard road, and many mistakes have been made along the way. But the fact that Botswana now has the local skill to deploy a satellite and make use of the data it provides to infor…

Post by motorest » Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 6:21 AM UTC

noduerme wrote: post #79

Aeolun wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t that fine? Not all of those conversations have to be taken to the end.

Imagine you're having an in-person conversation with someone in a crowded restaurant. Rather than addressing their next response to you, they wait until you go to the bathroom. Then they turn to everyone at the next table and say, "that guy doesn't get it, but fine." I personally think that in a no-holds-barred debate, you don't bother trying to convince your interlocutor of anything. You focus on persuading everyone…

Post by sureglymop » Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 6:26 AM UTC

heraldgeezer wrote: post #75

walrus01 wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> can't even keep power, internet WAN, mobile RAN/Core, infra up on a consistent basis. You could say this as well about significant parts of Appalachia in the US and other impoverished regions of the US, and many first nations reserves in remote parts of Canada too.

I really liked Peter Santellos video on Appalachia. Really beautiful landscape and small towns. There was affluent housing there too and pretty sure they would have cell service? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEyPgwIPkHo5If6xyrkr-... But Appalachia are not launching satellites. They DO have a space telescope! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bank_Telescope Very nice video also showing nice landscapes and…