KSA Announces Top Teams for Space Tech Mission Idea Contest

Conference Banner
Source: Kenya Space Agency

The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) has revealed the five top-performing teams that will proceed to the Advanced Phase Two Space Tech Mission Idea Contest (ST-MIC) Training and Bootcamp. The competition initially attracted over 40 mission ideas from universities across Kenya. Twenty mission ideas were selected for Phase 1 of the training, which was conducted from July 22 to August 16 , 2024. This was a collaborative effort with Teaching Science and Technology Inc. (TSTI).

The focus theme of ST-MIC 2024 has been “Nanosatellites for addressing societal challenges.” Throughout the contest, teams were tasked with developing a more elaborate space mission idea that addressed this theme. In addition, their products and solutions were expected to focus on different applications of nanosatellite technologies to enhance a sectoral challenge.

During Phase 1, participants engaged in an online course programme called “Understanding Space.” This curriculum was designed to provide students with a robust theoretical foundation and also help them refine their initial mission concepts. Following the completion of Phase 1, KSA, in partnership with TSTI, conducted a thorough evaluation process to identify the best mission ideas. The agency has now announced the selection of the top five teams. They will proceed to Phase 2 of the training.

Phase Two Details

The second phase of the ST-MIC training is scheduled from October 28 to November 8, 2024. This exciting development phase will be hosted at the Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Centre in Malindi, Kenya. In addition, KSA has partnered with the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), the Italian Space Agency, to deliver this advanced training programme. This initiative represents a significant step in Kenya’s space programme, aiming to nurture local talent and drive innovation in space technology.