Ethiopia launched its first satellite today, a landmark achievement for the country's space program that caps a banner year for the African space industry.<br />'' <br />'' The launch of the Ethiopian Remote Sensing Satellite (ETRSS) took place at a space station in China. The live broadcast was watched by a group of Ethiopian and Chinese officials and scientists who had gathered at the Entoto Observatory and Research Centre outside the capital, Addis Ababa.<br />'' <br />'' Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen said, this would be a foundation for their historic journey to prosperity. He said, this technological infrastructure was important even if delayed.<br />'' <br />'' According to Temidayo Oniosun, managing director of Space in Africa, a Nigeria-based firm that tracks African space programs, this was the eighth launch of an African satellite this year, topping the previous record of seven in 2017.<br />'' <br />'' The launch makes Ethiopia the eleventh African country to put a satellite into space. Egypt was the first in 1998.<br />'' <br />'' Data provided by Ethiopia's satellite is expected to paint a fuller picture of the country's agriculture, forestry and mining resources and improve responses to flooding and other disasters. <br />