By Redaction ARPS Media with Space News
Africa is playing a bigger role in the global space economy by launching the African Space Agency (AfSA) on April 20. This agency aims to bring together space efforts from 55 countries and is based in Egypt.
AfSA has made partnerships with the European Space Agency (ESA), the UAE Space Agency, and Russia’s Roscosmos to support its projects.
Although Africa has launched over 60 satellites into space, its space sector remains small and heavily reliant on foreign support. The budget for 2025 is expected to be $426 million, which is much less than ESA’s $8.7 billion and NASA’s $25.4 billion. Budget cuts have occurred due to economic challenges, although some countries are finding ways to increase local funding.
Countries like Angola are using foreign money to develop satellites. New companies, such as EnduroSat, are developing affordable satellites. AfSA faces competition from satellite mega-constellations, such as Starlink, and aims to ensure fair access to space resources. South Africa is updating its rules to attract foreign companies, but high costs for satellites remain a concern.
Advanced satellite technology is crucial for addressing food security and bridging the digital divide in Africa, where many people lack access to the internet.
Read original article at: Africa’s new space agency presents a unified space front – SpaceNews
