https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230617/pan-african-space-agency-african-nations-to-boost-space-industry-1059988892.html
Pan-African Space Agency: African Nations to Boost Space Industry
Pan-African Space Agency: African Nations to Boost Space Industry
Sputnik Africa
The South African Space Agency was one of the many organizations participating in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia's cultural... 17.06.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-06-17T15:17+0200
2023-06-17T15:17+0200
2023-06-17T15:17+0200
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African nations are working on the creation of the Pan-African space agency to coordinate countries' separate space programs, as well as their joint activities in the sphere of space exploration, said Humbulani Mudau, CEO of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). Speaking at the SPIEF-23 session dedicated to BRICS cooperation in space, Mudau stated that the African agency for intercontinental collaboration on space activities will be headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. The CEO noted that South Africa is ready to develop space-related programs and projects in cooperation with Russia and other BRICS partners, while offering to develop its own infrastructure that will enable nations to advance in this sphere. Mudau pointed out that due to its geographical location, South Africa is considered a "good place" for space observation and has infrastructure that can be used to organize space research. He underlined that his country is "enthusiastic about all BRICS initiatives in this area." In particular, he referred to cooperation in such spheres as launching satellite constellations for remote sensing of Earth and data exchange. Mudau also added that a meeting of the heads of the BRICS space agencies is expected to be held soon in South Africa.Apart from the South African representative, heads of the space agencies of Russia, the UAE, China, Malaysia and Algeria participated in the discussions within the framework of SPIEF-23. The officials talked about joint efforts in space exploration, and their intentions to cooperate in this field with Russia and other BRICS states.Africa's space industry is developing dynamically. As of now, over 20 African countries have space programs. In 2017, the African Union adopted the African Space Agency Act. It established the African Space Agency, creating a governance structure and strategy for continental-wide space activities. In January 2023, the AU formally inaugurated the agency. Prior to the creation of the intercontinental agency, many African countries have been advancing their space programs in cooperation with other states. For example, Kenya has recently launched its first operational Earth observation satellite Taifa-1 on board a SpaceX rocket. Angola and Zimbabwe are cooperating with the Russian space agency Roscosmos, while Djibouti is set to build a rocket launch facility with China.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230421/brazil-expects-space-cooperation-within-brics-to-mature-space-agency-says-1058739582.html
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230415/kenyas-taifa-1-satellite-launched-after-three-delays-1058625158.html
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Pan-African Space Agency: African Nations to Boost Space Industry
The South African Space Agency was one of the many organizations participating in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia's cultural capital. The four-day unique event in the world of business saw numerous discussions on various topics, ranging from trade and economy to space exploration.
African nations are working on the creation of the Pan-African space agency to coordinate countries' separate space programs, as well as their joint activities in the sphere of space exploration, said Humbulani Mudau, CEO of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).
Speaking at the SPIEF-23 session dedicated to BRICS cooperation in space, Mudau stated that the African agency for intercontinental collaboration on space activities will be headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
"We [South Africa] are actively developing strategies for outer space exploration: most recently, we adopted a new strategy for space exploration with the participation of other African countries, which also provides for the establishment of a joint space agency. It will be a Pan-African space agency with headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. All our joint actions will be coordinated there," Mudau said.
The CEO noted that South Africa is ready to develop space-related programs and projects in cooperation with Russia and other BRICS partners, while offering to develop its own infrastructure that will enable nations to advance in this sphere.
"We are open to cooperation and trade [...], so we want to enhance cooperation with all our partners in various space initiatives. We invite Russia to take part in the development of infrastructure, for example in terms of observation and resolving the problem of space debris," he further elaborated.
Mudau pointed out that due to its geographical location, South Africa is considered a "good place" for space observation and has infrastructure that can be used to organize space research. He underlined that his country is "enthusiastic about all BRICS initiatives in this area." In particular, he referred to cooperation in such spheres as launching satellite constellations for remote sensing of Earth and data exchange.
Mudau also added that a meeting of the heads of the BRICS space agencies is expected to be held soon in South Africa.
Apart from the South African representative, heads of the space agencies of Russia, the UAE,
China, Malaysia and Algeria participated in the discussions within the framework of SPIEF-23. The officials talked about joint efforts in space exploration, and their intentions to cooperate in this field with
Russia and other BRICS states.
Africa's space industry is developing dynamically. As of now, over 20 African countries have
space programs. In 2017, the African Union adopted the African Space Agency Act. It established the African Space Agency, creating a governance structure and strategy for continental-wide space activities. In January 2023, the AU formally inaugurated the agency.
Prior to the creation of the intercontinental agency, many African countries have been advancing their space programs in cooperation with other states. For example, Kenya has recently
launched its first operational Earth observation satellite Taifa-1 on board a SpaceX rocket. Angola and Zimbabwe are cooperating with the Russian space agency Roscosmos, while Djibouti is set to build a rocket launch facility with China.
