Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

I mean basically everyone launches their first satellite using a third party launch provider which is usually SpaceX. If there's someone missing credit here it's Endurosat for providing the satellite bus and doing integration work, but the payload and operation which is the novel bit will be Botswanan. It's like you don't have to credit Linus Torvalds or Brendan Eich for their contributions to your first web service...

(Fun fact: not only does SpaceX not care about not getting credit for rideshares, they actively request you don't mention them in advance publicity)

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My problem isn’t that they used a provider for the launch.

I just wanted to clarify because „X launches satellite“ sounds like X launched a rocket carrying a satellite, not that X made a satellite and had it launched by someone else.

Or maybe that’s just me, I’m not a native speaker.

Why do they ask you not to mention them publicly?

I assume because they don't exactly need the promotion, and a ton of small companies on rideshares mentioning SpaceX in advance of missions they then fail to successfully operate (usually through no fault of SpaceX's) isn't good publicity.

No, it's not just you, the phrase "launches first satellite" in the title is very similar language to what would be used about a country developing launch capability. For example, when headlines say "North Korea launches first spy satellite", the part of that which is big news is their ability to launch a satellite, rather than their ability to build a spy satellite.

(eg.) https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-flags...

SpaceX tired of winning

But it's also the same language used in headlines for dozens of "launches first satellite" articles that don't involve novel launch capability, including countries (Bahrain and Senegal were recent) as well as satellite companies. Confusing maybe, especially if you think Botswana might actually have spaceports or domestic launch capability, but common practice.

It's even used in trade press articles about Falcon 9 launches of satellites operated by countries that once had homegrown launch capability and are actively investing in regaining it... https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/air/update...

Companies frequently do this kind of thing when they don’t want you to use them as promo material through an implied partnership.

Because spacex also makes satellites, they don’t want confusion about which satellites are theirs. “MyCompany Partners with SpaceX to launch new communications satellite” is not something their PR team wants to deal with disambiguating.

Didn't the USA basically use German tech to launch their first space rockets?