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Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

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Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#231

Post by mmooss »

sokols wrote: post #135
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…

Congratulations on the successful launch! > .. I’d listen to the Voice of America.. I grew up listening to VoA as a kid as well, I was born in a then not so developed part of the Balkans. Sometimes I have the feeling that the ordinary Americans don't have a clue about the impact VoA had in the countries like ours.

Out of curiosity, why VOA and not the BBC or something else?

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#232

Post by mmooss »

hkpack wrote: post #210
thinkingtoilet wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an American, I literally have no idea what Voice of America is.

Together with "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty" - it was the main source of information not controlled by the party for people behind the iron curtain. Radio Liberty was employing variety of native journalists living abroad but with the intention to talk about their native countries and cultures. The amount of influence it had on the generation is hard to overestimate. It was also shut down recently by the DOGE.

Also there is/was Radio Free Asia.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#233

Post by teruakohatu »

mmooss wrote: post #230
apple1417 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends on what orbit you want. Due to the latitude you'll end up pretty inclined by default - which is bad for equatorial orbits sure, but a good start for polar ones. At a public session I went to several years back they spoke of specifically trying to attract polar launches for that reason.

How is it a better start for polar orbits than any other launch site on Earth?

Not the OP, and not sure why its particularly suited for polar, but its a good location for these reasons:

1. Good atmospheric conditions. 2. Low air traffic. 3. Low/flexible/favourable regulations. 4. Good locations for ground infrastructure (in part because of 1. and also because everywhere is by the sea). 5. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, tertiary education geared to support the industry.

Also, and I don't know for sure this is a factor, but we have a number of specialised industries such as building large things from carbon composite (yachts) and radio communications for example.

I think option 3. is a big one. The govt. attitude is usually "give it a go", rather than a default "no".

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#234

Post by mmooss »

teruakohatu wrote: post #233
mmooss wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is it a better start for polar orbits than any other launch site on Earth?

Not the OP, and not sure why its particularly suited for polar, but its a good location for these reasons: 1. Good atmospheric conditions. 2. Low air traffic. 3. Low/flexible/favourable regulations. 4. Good locations for ground infrastructure (in part because of 1. and also because everywhere is by the sea). 5. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, tertiary education geared to support the industry. Also, and I don't…

Thanks. How big a factor is it that you aren't circling Earth's axis as quickly as most other places, and thus launches lose some boost? That's what I was wondering originally.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#235

Post by vasco »

Apocryphon wrote: post #201
vasco wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes because most high schools with money to hitch a ride with spacex are in the USA. So they aren't first launches, which is besides the point. The point is that launching a cubesat is nowhere near the complexity that NASA (or any other real space program) operates at, and it's actually at the level of a US rich high school. This is no detriment to anyone, it's just what it is. I'd say with enough money for the space…

See, wasn’t it easy to clarify your point?

[flagged]

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#236

Post by Ray20 »

epolanski wrote: post #180
Ray20 wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Let me tell you how we actually feel about it here. Can we have the opinion not from some privileged elites, but of the oppressed majority, who are literally starving to involuntarily under threat of execution finance all this support projects for this disgusting government?

Don't you feel silly for commenting on things that you know nothing about? Botswana is one of the most developed countries in the world on many aspects like democracy, press and political freedom or gender equality.

>aspects like democracy, press and political freedom or gender equality

We are literally talking about country, where half the population are starving and 10 percent of children are DYING. But yeah, girls are dying not worse than boys, so amazing gender equality, best place on the Earth. All you need to know about fascists and their statistics.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#237

Post by Ray20 »

vodou wrote: post #151
Ray20 wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Let me tell you how we actually feel about it here. Can we have the opinion not from some privileged elites, but of the oppressed majority, who are literally starving to involuntarily under threat of execution finance all this support projects for this disgusting government?

Botswana is a democracy with a higher democracy index (7.63) than some European countries. Even close to USA (7.85). [1] [1] https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/democracy-index-eiu

And what place they are holding on starvation index and children mortality rate?

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#238

Post by defrost »

Ray20 wrote: post #236
epolanski wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't you feel silly for commenting on things that you know nothing about? Botswana is one of the most developed countries in the world on many aspects like democracy, press and political freedom or gender equality.

>aspects like democracy, press and political freedom or gender equality We are literally talking about country, where half the population are starving and 10 percent of children are DYING. But yeah, girls are dying not worse than boys, so amazing gender equality, best place on the Earth. All you need to know about fascists and their statistics.

You're overstating the severity somewhat .. severe food insecurity is not starvation level food shortages, and 3.8 percent is less than 10 percent.

  At national level 53.29 percent of the population in Botswana was affected by moderate or severe food insecurity in 2021/22

  Moderate or severe Food insecurity occurs when a person or household has limited or uncertain access to sufficient and healthy food because of financial limitations or other constraints.

  As a result of financial or other constraints, people may have to compromise on the quality and quantity of their diets, but they do not necessarily suffer from extreme hunger or starvation.
~ https://statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/PR...

* Under-five Mortality Rate: 38.7 deaths per 1,000 live births.

and dropping steadily from 77.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 24 years ago

~ https://data.unicef.org/country/bwa/

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#239

Post by AdamN »

hylaride wrote: post #184
AdamN wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what they were saying. America had the first credit cards and therefore had trouble moving to chip & pin partly because the existing system worked without it.

That makes no sense. The rest of the world also had the existing systems and moved on relatively quickly. The issue is that the US banking system is highly fragmented, making universal change difficult. Most other countries have fewer, larger banks (which does introduce other problems that regulation has to be active with), but it means that they can gather together and agree on standards far quicker. Most other coun…

The US credit card system is not highly fragmented - there are just 3 big players and maybe 2 smaller players. There are tons of banks but that's not an issue for chip and pin. Anyway Europe also has a fragmented bank landscape.
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