In preparation for the launch of the African Space Agency this year, the Egyptian Space Agency(EgSA) has announced a grant for a continental training course tagged Basic Space Technology Training Workshop 2022, the first of other slated training. The training is expected to promote capacity building amongst African engineers and scientists and ensure the implementation of objectives from the African Space Policy. 

Professor Sedky, the EgSA CEO, opened the training by welcoming the eight Africa delegates represented in the workshop. The event included a tour of the EgSA facilities and access to the agency’s laboratories, permitting a group of 15 specialists to observe the ongoing process of establishing the African Space Agency’s headquarters. Furthermore, the training will create a collaborative environment between the specialists and EgSA specialists to learn and develop existing expertise.

“This training was established as a cooperative effort between the African Space Agency and African countries. EgSA is keen to strengthen a common platform for African space entities in future missions on a continental level. Thus, the two weeks of training for different African countries will allow sustainable linkage between African institutes to raise awareness about space technology and its applications”, Prof. Islam El Magd, EgSA Deputy CEO, commented.

According to Dr Ayman Ahmed, the Training Coordinator, the workshop aims to bring together teams from African countries to share knowledge on topics related to the space industry and discuss methods by which space technologies and their applications can be utilised to support sustainable economic, social and environmental development.

In addition, the workshop provides the trainees with practical exercises aimed at capacity building in satellite engineering for teams from African states while strengthening Egyptian-African relations. The workshop will also serve as a platform to ensure inclusive development in space technologies and propel the benefits of space exploration to the end-users by advancing initiatives and strategies established through the African Space Policy and Strategy and the African Space Agency.

The training was supported and sponsored by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development(EAPD).