Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS-Zimbabwe), a club at the Midlands State University, unveiled a Satellite Ground Station Kit which they received from the Space Generation Advisory Council, at an unboxing ceremony held at the University’s Gweru Campus on the 16th of June 2022.
MSU SEDS team is one of the 10 beneficiaries in the world to receive this coveted award. It is also the first university student’s club to be awarded the prize.
Some of the beneficiaries include the Rwanda Space Agency, Team Deep Space Philippines, Pacha UPB Bolivia, Chasqui 2 Peru and Team Everest Nepal amoung others.
The students received the kit after applying for the Global Satellite Tracking Initiative (GSTI), where they proposed to set up a satellite ground station in Zimbabwe at the Midlands State University.
In Support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, the Space Generation Advisory Council, is a global non-governmental, non-profit organisation and network which aims to represent university students and young space professionals ages 18-35 to the United Nations, space agencies, industry, and academia.
Speaking at the unboxing ceremony, MSU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research, Innovation and Industrialization, Professor Grace Mugumbate said that the kit will help students, the nation and the world at large, explore boundless knowledge and possibilities.
Professor Mugumbate also said that the introduction of SEDS-Zimbabwe at MSU will give students a chance to explore beyond their wildest dreams by venturing into space and learning how they can use that information to make a positive impact in their communities.
The satellite ground station kit was received by MSU Incubation Hub and the Faculty of Science and Technology.
SEDS is an international student organization whose purpose is to promote space exploration and development through educational and engineering projects. It also fosters the development of future leaders and contributors in the expanding space industry.
Jonathan Nyoni, the SEDS- MSU president, took the delegates through a presentation on what SEDS is and how it will benefit the University community, business, agriculture and the world at large.
Giving closing remarks, Dean of Students, Ms F Chakauya said that the kit has shown that the University has the capacity to lead in satellite technology and learning. This is in line with MSU’s key result areas number 3 and number 4 which talk about enhanced critical thinking, innovative, technological and entrepreneurship skills and competence.
MSU SEDS team club is comprised of students and staff from the departments of Computer Science and Surveying and Geomatics.
The ceremony was attended by MSU officials, among them Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor Professor Hazel Ngoshi, Dean of Students, Ms F Chakauya, Chairperson of the Surveying and Geomatics Department, Dr Prestige Makanga, representatives from Chinhoyi University of Technology, deans, faculty representatives, students and various members of the University community.