The Egyptian Space Agency Announces 2024 Launch Plans
Key Highlights
- Dr Sherif Sedky, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, announced the launch of the African Development Satellite.
- Dr Sherif Sedky unveiled a project to install a remote-sensing camera on the ISS, supported by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Airbus.
- SPINX is scheduled for launch by the end of 2024.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Egyptian Space Agency, Dr Sherif Sedky has announced that the African Development Satellite, a collaborative project between Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan and Uganda, is on track to be launched at the end of the year.
Dr Sherif Sedky elaborated that the African Development Satellite focuses on climate change studies. Participating African countries—Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan and Uganda—are jointly designing the satellite’s subsystems, with Egypt taking the lead on design, assembly, integration, testing, and launch. Each country is responsible for a specific subsystem. To prepare for this project, representatives from these countries were invited to train at the Egyptian Space Agency on building satellite subsystems.
Egypt Unviels Remote-Sensing Camera Project
Furthermore, the CEO unveiled another project involving the installation of a remote-sensing camera on the International Space Station (ISS), supported by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and in collaboration with Airbus. The camera will be designed, assembled, and tested entirely in Egypt before being placed on the ISS. This initiative, a collaborative effort between Egypt, Kenya, and Uganda will enhance Egypt’s contributions to space exploration.
The SPINX Project
Dr Sherif Sedky highlighted another significant project called “SPINX,” funded by the Academy of Scientific Research. This satellite, dedicated to studying climate change, is scheduled for launch by the end of 2024.These successful projects set a precedent for future African space missions, inspiring other nations to pursue space exploration and scientific research, and fostering innovation and development.