| Mission type | Communications |
|---|---|
| Operator | TelNet |
| COSPAR ID | 2021-022AA |
| SATCAT no. | 47956 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | TelNet |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 22 March 2021 |
| Rocket | Soyuz-2 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Kazakhstan |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Low Earth orbit |
Challenge-1[1] or Challenge One (TelNet Challenge One)[2][3] is the first domestically made satellite from Tunisia. It was launched on 22 March 2021 by Russia on a Soyuz 2 rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. The satellite was built by a team of telecommunications engineers from TelNet, as an Internet of Things satellite.[1][3] This marked Tunisia as the 6th African country[1] and the 1st country in the Maghreb to manufacture its own satellite.[4] The satellite is to be the first of a constellation of 30 satellites.[5] The satellite was first announced in September 2019 for a July 2020 launch.[6]
- ^ a b c "Tunisia reaches for stars with satellite launch". Kuwait Times. AFP. 22 March 2021.
- ^ "TELnET Challenge One mission control centre". Webdo.tn. March 2021.
- ^ a b "Tunisia launches first satellite, "Challenge 1"". North Africa Post. 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Out of this world: Tunisia launches its first satellite". AfricaNews. AFP. 2021-03-22. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ "Lancement, samedi, 20 mars, de " Challenge 1 ", premier satellite 100% tunisien" (in French). L'Economiste Maghrébin. TAP. 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Le satellite tunisien " Challenge 1 " lancé en juillet 2020". webdo.tn (in French). Webdo. 26 September 2019.