This accomplishment signifies a major stride towards the nation's ambition for "technological sovereignty," as highlighted by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The satellite was launched at 18:56 GMT on Friday from California's Vandenberg base. President Faye announced the news through a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) later that evening, praising the determination and hard work of the Senegalese engineers and technicians involved in the project. "This advance marks a major step towards our technological sovereignty," Faye stated, reflecting on the five years of dedication that culminated in the launch. He expressed his "pride and gratitude" to everyone who contributed to this milestone. Reports say GAINDESAT-1A was developed by Senegalese engineers in partnership with the Montpellier University Space Centre (CSUM) in France.