The Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) plans to hold a Space Day tagged “Space For Society”  on the 16th of February 2020.

The objective is to educate and inform the public of the agency’s work and forthcoming projects. The event will also set a stage for trading research knowledge and expertise in the field of space and satellite technology in Africa and the  Middle East, as well as serve as an occasion to showcase Egypt’s achievements in the field of space exploration and related sciences. It is also an opportunity for researchers and stakeholders in the field to familiarise with the Egyptian space program.

Attendance at the event will include ministers, ambassadors of concerned countries and senior officials, people of all ages, university students, and foreign and local officials.
“We invite members of Egyptian society to participate with us in this event and celebrate the launch of Egyptian satellites, which were designed and manufactured 100 per cent by Egyptian minds,” said Mohamed al-Qousy, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency.

According to the organisers, the open day will take place from 9 am and 3 pm at the Leadership and Management Development Center in Giza’s Agouza, and will witness the launch of a platform for organising science programs and similar activities, and fostering discussions between foreign researchers and scientists in Egypt, Africa and the Arab world.

More activities on the line up for the event are an exhibition and three workshops. While the exhibition is a chance for private groups and Egyptian universities to showcase their vision and attract young people interested in the space field, with officials from the agency set to host discussions on its programs and upcoming plans, the workshops will give attendees a working knowledge about satellite development and use. Besides, supporters of Egypt’s Space Day and the winners of the Egyptian Space Agency’s logo design contest will be acknowledged at the event.

According to Qousy, organising Space Day is in line with the overall framework of the country’s socio-economic development strategies for achieving Egypt’s 2030 vision.

The Egyptian Space Agency was established to organise the efforts of various scientific bodies in the North African country involved in the research of outer space and satellite technology, to further development in Egypt and protect national security.

The agency has undertaken several activities in this regard, including establishing support for Egyptian universities in their endeavours to build laboratories for education in space science.

EgSA is also on track for several projects such as the first-ever competition to send an Egyptian astronaut to space targeted to begin in January 2020.

Late last year, NileSat, the country’s satellite company reached an agreement with French aerospace company, Thales Alenia Space, for the manufacture and launch of NileSat 301. The satellite development began almost three years ago and will be launched in 2022.