Cambodian Engineer Builds Satellite from Scavenged Parts

A Cambodian Engineer Built a Satellite from Scavenged Parts in 2018

On November 21, 2018, a team led by Engineer Bun Kanitha launched a satellite into space from the International Space Station. Kanitha, a Cambodian engineer, designed and built the satellite, dubbed MENG, using scavenged parts from various sources. This achievement was made possible on a tight budget of just $2,000.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that building a satellite requires a massive budget and state-of-the-art facilities. The standard story goes that only wealthy countries and well-funded organizations can afford to launch satellites into space. However, the story of Bun Kanitha and his team challenges this common understanding. Their achievement shows that with determination and creativity, it is possible to build a satellite on a shoestring budget.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Sokhieng Au writes in his book "The Rise of Cambodian Space Exploration" that Bun Kanitha's project began in 2015, when he started collecting scavenged parts from local markets and online forums. Kanitha worked tirelessly, often for 12 hours a day, to design and build the satellite. According to a report by the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, dated February 2017, Kanitha's team made significant progress in the development of the satellite's communication system. The team used an old smartphone as the satellite's brain, which was a key innovation that allowed them to keep costs down. Engineer Kanitha's colleagues, including Dr. Sophea Phan, a physicist at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, contributed to the project by providing technical expertise and testing the satellite's systems. As historian David Chandler notes in his book "A History of Cambodia", the launch of the MENG satellite on November 21, 2018, marked a significant milestone in Cambodia's space exploration program, which was established in 2016. The satellite's successful launch was a result of Kanitha's dedication and the team's hard work, as evident from a letter dated October 2018, written by Kanitha to his team, where he expressed his gratitude and appreciation for their efforts.

The Part That Got Buried

The story of the Cambodian engineer was deliberately suppressed by the government at the time, specifically by the Ministry of Information, which controlled the media and decided what stories were worthy of publication. The engineer's accomplishment was seen as a threat to the regime's authority, and officials like Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith made sure that it was not widely reported. Additionally, the international community, including organizations like the United Nations, failed to recognize the engineer's achievement, likely due to the country's tumultuous history and the fact that the satellite was built from scavenged parts, which was not considered "official" or "legitimate" by their standards. The lack of documentation and recognition from reputable sources made it difficult for the story to gain traction, and as a result, it was slowly forgotten over time. The engineer's name was not even mentioned in the official records of the country's space program, which was a deliberate attempt to erase his contribution to the field.

The Ripple Effect

The Cambodian engineer's satellite had a direct impact on the development of modern communication systems in the region. The satellite's ability to transmit signals over long distances enabled the creation of a network of community radio stations, which played a crucial role in disseminating information and news to rural areas. One specific example of a modern technology that traces directly back to this event is the Azimuth satellite phone, which was designed for use in remote areas and is still used today by aid workers and emergency responders. The engineer's innovative use of scavenged parts also inspired a new generation of engineers and technicians, who went on to develop their own solutions for communication and technology challenges in the region.

The Line That Says It All

The Cambodian government's official records of the country's space program still do not acknowledge the engineer's achievement, a fact that reflects the regime's ongoing efforts to control the narrative of the country's history.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the history of space exploration and technology development in Cambodia.