Prof. Gayane Faye to headline civic education event as Senegal advances space ambitions
Date: 2026-02-16
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
As
Senegal prepares for the launch of its second satellite, Professor Gayane Faye
is set to participate in the Grande Rentrée Citoyenne on Tuesday, February 17,
2026, an event held under the aegis of Moustapha Mamba Guirassy, Minister of
National Education.
The
event comes as Senegal continues to build momentum in its space and technology
agenda following the successful deployment of its first satellite,
GAINDESAT-1A, on August 16, 2024. The satellite was launched from California
via SpaceX, marking a historic milestone for Senegal.
Professor Faye played a central role in coordinating the country’s inaugural satellite mission. A native of Gossas, he led a team composed of young Senegalese engineers, reflecting a deliberate strategy to cultivate local expertise in advanced technologies.
The
satellite project was developed through a multi-year partnership with the
Centre Spatial de l'Université de Montpellier. After five years of research and
development, the mission achieved orbit, meeting stringent technical and
quality benchmarks.
Observers have highlighted the significant participation of young women engineers and technicians in the project, underscoring broader efforts to promote gender inclusion within Senegal’s science and technology sectors.
Professor
Faye currently serves as Coordinator of the SENSAT Sénégal and Director of the
Applied Remote Sensing Laboratory at the École Supérieure Polytechnique. His
address at the Grande Rentrée Citoyenne is expected to focus on encouraging
young people to pursue careers in science, technology, and space-related
disciplines.
The
initiative aligns with national priorities supported by institutions including
MESRI Digital SN and the Ministère de l'éducation nationale du Sénégal, as
Senegal positions technological capability and innovation as pillars of its
long-term development strategy.
