ROOM
58
Astronautics
Temidayo Isaiah
Oniosun
Regional Coordinator,
Space Generation
Advisory Council,
Nigeria, Africa
A
ccording to Euroconsult, a consultancy
focused on high-tech industries including
space, Africa’s emerging space market is
about to make a significant contribution
to the global space sector.
The journey began in February 1999 when
South Africa’s first satellite, Sunsat-1 launched.
It was built by Stellenbosch University,
South Africa, and this first step toward space
technology for the African continent eventually
led to a giant leap forward. In November 2002,
Algeria joined the big players by launching
her first satellite, Alsat-1, built by UK-based
Surrey Space Technology Limited (SSTL) and
the Algerian Centre National des Techniques
Spatiales (CNTS).
In September the following year, Nigeria -
representing the biggest economy and most
populous country in the region - launched its first
satellite NigeriaSat-1, also built by SSTL. In April
2007, Egypt launched MisrSat-1, built by Egypt’s
National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space
Sciences together with the Yuzhnoye Design
Bureau in Ukraine.
Eighteen years after the first venture into space,
the African space industry has progressed with
millions of dollars invested and about 21 satellites
launched by six nations. The growing space
industry contributes to the continent’s objectives
of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
As well as driving scientific progress, space
activities boost growth and employment in other
areas such as telecommunications, navigation and
Earth observation where systems and services
guarantee independence and security for the
continent, whilst also helping to address major
societal challenges including climate change,
resource scarcity, public health and an ageing
population. The largest national investors are
Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Angola and Egypt,
Filled with rich history, cultures and resources, Africa is the one of the most
populous continents on Earth and there is a saying that if Africa closes its
borders, other parts of the world will go out of business. Despite being the
second largest continent in the world, it is filled with mostly third world
countries still developing after colonial independence. All industries thrive
in Africa with multinational, commercial giants trying to make a home within
its lands - and the US$250 billion space industry is no exemption.
Africa is open for
space business
