Sudan’s has launched its first-ever satellite. The satellite is known as Sudan Remote Sensing Satellite (SRSS-1)

The satellite which aims to develop and conduct research in military, economic and space technology was launched by China.

Sudan’s head of sovereign council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, made this announcement on Tuesday at a meeting with top security officials held in Khartoum, the country’s capital.

“A satellite was launched for military and economic purposes in partnership with a major country (China). The Satellite aims to develop space research, acquire a database, acquire knowledge and science of space technology, discover natural resources and serve the military aspects of the country,” General Abdel Fattah said at in a statement through the council.

China’s state news agency, Xinhua reported that the satellite was launched on Sunday from North China’s Shanxi province.

Spokesman of the ruling body, According to Mohamed al-Faki Suleiman, the spokesman of the ruling council, the satellite would be monitored from Sudan in a few months time

“China launched the satellite as it is a partner in this project,” al-Faki said.

Sudan has been involved in a national space programme for decades covering activities such as remote sensing and geo-informatics.

President Omar al-Bashir established the Institute of Space Research and Aerospace (ISRA) in 2013, as part of an overall plan to develop space technologies.

Culled from www.aljazeera.com