African Space Policy and Strategy approved by the AU Assembly, Jan 2016 2. Munyaradzi Makoni is a freelance writer based in Cape Town, Reporting on international high-energy physics. Collective effort: Africa is already home to continent-wide physics and astronomy societies (Courtesy: Canadian Space Agency). If you'd like to change your details at any time, please visit My account. Peter Martinez, a space-policy analyst and executive director of Secure World Foundation, says that the lack of progress could result in delays beyond 2023. with the agency perhaps even being scaled down in scope. Tel: +251 11 551 77 00 [2], Currently, SANSA's main focusses include using data obtained from remote sensing through satellites and other projects to provide assessment on flooding, fires, resource management and environmental phenomena in South Africa and the African continent.[3][4][5]. endstream
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It says it will also commit resources to help African countries train scientists in earth observation, satellite communication, navigation and positioning as well as astronomy.
But it is still not clear what implications the agency will have on the budgets of African countries. Legislation to establish the African Space Agency was passed by the AU in 2017 and two years later Egypt was chosen to host its headquarters, with the agency supposed to be up and running in 2023.
Promoting Africa’s growth and economic development by championing citizen inclusion and increased cooperation and integration of African states. “It might be instructive to take a step back and ask what exactly is it that the African Space Agency will do once it is established. A second satellite, SumbandilaSat, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in 2009.[7].
