He says the reason the probe is called an observer is because it has a camera on it for sending live pictures and video back to the control center. The rat, he says, is for testing skills at keeping something alive in space.

Chris Nsamba and his team have received a financial grant from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. But except for that, they have had to depend on private donations from supporters.

Chris Nsamba says he does not have a technical team to assist with the finer points of aerospace engineering. In fact, he says he developed the project all by himself. The other people helping him are his students. He says he is training them how to develop such projects.

The launch itself would involve a helium weather balloon. The plan is for the balloon to carry the observer up more than 36 kilometers. At that point, thruster rockets would fire.

Chris Nsamba says he and his team have been working up to 18 hours a day on the project. He says the thrusters have been tested and the rocket fuel is ready. He says the president has given permission to launch the observer, but wants to inspect it himself first.

The project may be small compared to space programs in other countries. But the head of the physics department at Makarere University in Kampala thinks Chris Nsamba’s efforts should not be dismissed. Professor Florence D’ujanga says, for science to develop, you have to start somewhere. I’m Caty Weaver.