New Satellite Station Commissioned At Energy University, Sunyani

A new satellite ground station called the Cosmic 2 Ground Station has been commissioned at the University of Energy and Natural Resources(UENR) in Sunyani.  

It was funded and installed by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the cost of one point two million dollars.  

Speaking at the commissioning, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Francis Dapaah, says among other benefits the facility will make it possible for the Ghana Meteorological Agency to make more accurate prediction of the weather.  

The Cosmic 2 Satellite is currently only the second of its kind in Africa and one of seven forming a ring around the world to provide atmospheric data that will improve weather forecasts and decision making in diverse sectors.

The new Ground Station, Cosmic 2 joins a ring of eight others in Taiwan, Guam, Hawaii, Honduras, Brazil, Kuwait, Mauritius and Australia.  

Cosmic is an acronym for Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate.  

It is a partnership between the US and Taiwan, making up an international partnership of ground stations.  

These Stations collects temperature, moisture and ionospheric information over the tropic regions worldwide.  

At the UENR, the Ground Station is managed by its Earth Observation Research and Innovation Centre (EORIC), which until addition of the new Ground Station, operated a satellite system made up of a direct broadcast earth observation ground station, a Geonet Cast reception station and an automatic weather station.  

Thanks to the newly installed Ground Station, the Centre will be able to supply stakeholders with relevant information needed to make decisions regarding the environment, water and food security.  

Addressing the Commissioning Ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the UENR, Prof. Harrison Dapaah, said EORIC is challenged because it requires a dedicated building, good and fast internet, a stand by generator and funding for research activities as well as additional staff.  

He therefore appealed for one million Ghana Cedis from Government to solve the challenges and make the Centre more effective in its crucial role.  

The Head of EORIC, Dr. Amos Kabo-bah, said with the installation of the Cosmic 2 Ground Station, the Agricultural, health and Meteorological Sectors stand to benefit from vital information that will ease decision making.  

He said the Meteorological Agency, in particular stands to benefit a great deal.

The Head of the Unites States, NNOA, Richard Ullman, said the Ground Station at UENR in West Africa is ideally placed between the Centres in Kuwait, Mauritius and Brazil to share data with weather services world wide as well as other crucial sectors of life in Ghana and the US among others.

GBC