Nigeria set to launch four new satellites to strengthen space technology

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has approved the launch of four new satellites to advance Nigeria’s efforts and enhance its space technology capabilities, highlighting NASRDA’s plans to position Nigeria as a significant player in the African and global space arena through satellite development projects.

TRL Space begins development of Rwanda’s first hyperspectral satellite

TRL Space is building Rwanda’s first hyperspectral satellite. The 6U CubeSat will utilise sensors to capture images across various spectral bands, delivering highly detailed data that is particularly useful for agricultural applications. The CEO of TRL Space, Petr Kapoun, made the announcement at the Space Exploration Evening in Kigali earlier in October.

Africa’s participation at the 75th IAC in Milan

The just concluded #IAC2024, hosted in Milan from October 14-18, gathered over 11,000 delegates from 96 countries and saw a significant presence from the African space community, highlighting the continent’s growing influence in the global space industry.

African Union’s perspectives on space capabilities for sustainability on Earth

H.E. Dr Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Council, emphasised the importance of global cooperation to ensure sustainability in space and on Earth during his address at the inaugural Space Leaders meeting at the 75th International Astronautics Congress (IAC) in Milan. This is a timely remark, considering the plans for the formal inauguration of the African Space Agency in 2025.

Angola leads ITSO African Group for the first time

At the 41st ITSO’s Assembly of the Parties, Angola was elected to lead Region D (Africa) of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation. During this event, Dr Zolana Joao, General Manager of the Angola Space Management Programme Office, was also elected as the Vice President of the African for the Assembly of Parties – 41.

President João Lourenço highlights Conecta Angola’s impact on expanding digital connectivity

Through Conecta Angola, a project powered by the ANGOSAT-2 satellite, 366,000 people in remote regions across 14 provinces now benefit from telephone and internet services, demonstrating the country’s work towards bridging the digital divide.

DUNIA: A cross-cutting solution to Africa’s Earth observation challenges

DUNIA is a cloud-based platform designed to overcome African users’ unique obstacles in accessing and utilising EO data. It significantly reduces the reliance on high-capacity servers and local computational resources. Here’s how African users are benefitting from the platform.

Djibouti joins SCO Charter, strengthening climate risk management and space capabilities

Djibouti has officially become a signatory of the Space Climate Observatory Charter, furthering its commitment to tackling climate risks and enhancing its space technology capabilities. The country aims to establish its regional observatory as a hub for experts, focusing on improving the region’s capacity to anticipate and manage climate-related challenges.

Ethiopia commissions GNSS station and magnetometer at Entoto Observatory

Ethiopia’s Space Science and Geospatial Institute has successfully commissioned a GNSS receiving station and a magnetometer at the Entoto Observatory and Research Center near Addis Ababa.

Intelsat introduces satellite backhaul service to boost connectivity in Nigeria and West Africa

Intelsat has introduced a new satellite-based cellular backhaul service platform in Lagos to expand its services and enhance mobile connectivity in Nigeria and surrounding West African nations.

NIGCOMSAT held the maiden edition of Nigerian Satellite Week 2024 in Abuja

NIGCOMSAT held the inaugural Nigerian Satellite Week 2024, which will be held from October 16 to 19 in Abuja. This first-of-its-kind event brought together key stakeholders, including industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators, to explore the latest advancements and future opportunities in Nigeria’s space and satellite industry.

NASRDA partners with Thumbay University Hospital to launch telemedicine programme

The National Space Research and Development Agency has partnered with Thumbay University Hospital in the UAE to launch an innovative telemedicine programme to transform healthcare access across Nigeria, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

Opportunities

• DE Africa is accepting proposals from service providers with proven expertise in Governing Board recruitment to support the appointment of an Interim Advisory Board (IAB).
• The Egyptian Space Agency has officially announced the registration opening for the “Design and Development of Satellite Systems” project for the 2024/2025 academic year.
• The Egyptian Space Agency has opened the application process for the fourth cycle of its African Annual Training Programme.