Africa

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Russia’s Proton-M launch vehicle delivered the Republic of Angola’s Angosat-2 telecommunications satellite into its designated orbit, Roscosmos said. Angosat-2 was built by the Roscosmos enterprise to replace Angosat-1 launched from Baikonur spaceport in 2017.

The Rockefeller Foundation launched a new US $5.5 million collaboration with e-GUIDE (Electricity Growth and Use In Developing Economies Initiative) and public benefit technology startup Atlas AI, to accelerate economic development and promote climate resilient infrastructure investment across sub-Saharan Africa, the Foundation said. 

Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, appointed Professor Sherif Mohamed Sedky as the new executive head of the Egyptian Space Agency, Space in Africa reported. Professor Sedky will serve as executive head for one year. Professor Sedky is replacing Dr Mohamed Al-Qousi, who has been in the position since 2019.

Space In Africa published the the African Space Industry Annual Report displaying how space economy is becoming a strategic tool for boosting the national economy and contributing toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.  According to the report, the African space industry was valued at USD 19.49 billion in 2021.

The Rwandan Space Agency (RSA) and the Global Satellite Operator’s Association (GSOA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance satellite communication services and fast-track Africa’s digital inclusion plans, Africa News reported.  The agreement was signed by Aarti Holla-Maini, Secretary-General of GSOA and Colonel Francis Ngabo, RSA’s Director-General.

In honour of this sacred experience and all of you who know me and have enrolled in this global vision, I, Moriba Jah have partnered with SpaceWatch.Global to run an exciting Space Café series: Moriba’s Vox Populi (Latin for “the people’s voice”) where I intend to choose topics of relevance

The inaugural edition of the NewSpace Africa Conference 2022 will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 25th to 27th April. The event is organized by Space in Africa in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the Kenyan Space Agency. The theme of the event is “Making Africa the New Hotspot for Space Business”.

SayariLabs, the first Kenyan space start-up to provide satellite services and space-based solutions, and software-defined nanosatellite and space services provider, EnduroSat, signed a commercial agreement to launch TAIFA-1, the first Kenyan 3U nanosatellite.  East Africa has experienced heavy droughts and wildfires, causing water crisis, and damage to agriculture and local food supplies.

Chief Executives of leading satellite operators announced that the EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA) is now going to include satellite operators from all over the world. To reflect this, the Association is changing its name to Global Satellite Operators’ Association (GSOA). 

As part of the partnership between SpaceWatch.Global and Orbital Gateway Consulting we have been granted permission to publish selected articles and texts. We are pleased to present “Dongfang Hour China Aerospace News Roundup 15-21 November 2021”. Hello and welcome to another episode of the Dongfang Hour China Aero/Space News Roundup! A special shout-out to our friends at SpaceWatch.Global,