Ethiopia Gives Updates on its Third Satellite Project
Spearheaded by Ethiopia’s Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI), the country has announced further updates towards implementing and launching its third Earth Observation satellite- ETRSS-2. SSGI Director General Abdissa Yilma revealed that the satellite is currently under development through a partnership with the Chinese firm, Shanghai Engineering Microsatellite. The Ethiopian Remote Sensing Satellite-2 (ETRSS-2) is designed to have an operational lifespan of five years, offering a resolution of 0.5 metres.
The Director General further highlighted that the satellite development process will include key project phases such as mission analysis, preliminary design and analysis, and component assembly. According to his remarks, the satellite manufacturer- the Shanghai Engineering Microsatellite Centre, has finalised the mission analysis process. The assembly and testing phases are expected to take approximately three months, with Ethiopian engineers actively participating throughout each stage of the process.
The Director General noted that while the complete satellite development timeline is projected to be 18 months from the initial agreement, the actual launch date may be subject to adjustment. ETRSS-2 will enhance Ethiopia’s remote sensing capabilities by providing high-resolution imagery that complements data from the country’s two existing satellites- ETRSS-1, launched in 201,9, and the ET-SMART-RSS, launched in 2020. Both satellites have been crucial in advancing Ethiopia’s Earth Observation capabilities to support key economic areas such as agricultural monitoring and environmental management.
Ethiopia’s Expanding Space Capabilities
With the launch of ETRSS-2, the enhanced imaging capabilities will provide valuable satellite data for numerous development initiatives, including agricultural advancement, forestry management, water resource monitoring, and natural disaster prevention efforts. The development of ETRSS-2 comes months after SSGI signed a contract agreement with the Shanghai Microsatellite Engineering Center to develop the satellite. Furthermore, Ethiopia is finalising a feasibility study and exploring financing options for developing and launching a communication satellite, namely the Ethiopian COMSAT.
As the latest China-Africa space collaboration takes shape with Ethiopia’s third satellite, China continues to solidify its position as a key partner for satellite development across the African continent.