Africa’s Participation in the 65th Meeting of COPUOS
The 65th meeting of the Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (COPUOS), held in Vienna from 1 – 10 June 2021, saw global participation, including representatives from African member states, including Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, and South Africa, among others.
The General Assembly set up COPUOS in 1959 to govern the exploration and use of space for the benefit of all…
The Role of Space Technologies to Angola’s Sustainable Development – Dr Zolana João, DG of GGPEN
On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, the Angolan Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication (MINTTICS), in partnership with Internet Technology Angola (ITA), organised the Angola Tech Hub Forum to commemorate the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day.
The forum themed “Angola's Leadership for Digital Transformation in Africa” brought together 200…
The Egyptian Space Programme, a comprehensive analysis
Egypt boasts of one of the most vibrant space programmes on the African continent. With its fleet of nine satellites (including active, inactive and lost), the North African nation has launched the most satellites in Africa. Furthermore, Egypt will also host the headquarters of the recently established African Space Agency. This article analyses several aspects of Egypt’s space programme,…
How Satellite Function Drives Africans to Different Launch Services
This article will explore the relationship between the functions a satellite is launched for and the launch service the satellite-owning country uses. It will discuss the connections between satellite launch centres, satellite orbits, and satellite functions and use them to explain the trend and its reasons.
Relationship between satellite function and satellite orbit
There are several…
GGPEN Experts Complete Training on Large Satellites
Twenty-Five Angolan Management Office of the National Space Program (GGPEN) specialists have completed training in Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) of Large Satellites (over 1000 kg of mass). The training held from November 2 to December 3, 2021.
The training modules are according to the needs and challenges of GGPEN in the context of ongoing space activities. Among the various topics,…
Who dominates the African satellite broadband market?
As Africa yearns to transform to a middle income continent, the Internet will be at the centre of realising the dream. Conventionally, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have been at the core of broadband delivery in the continent. Recently, the dropping average revenue per user (ARPU) is a challenge to MNOs. They struggle to extend services to rural and remote areas with lower population density.…
MINTTICS Reappoints Dr Zolana Rui João as GGPEN’s Director
The Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication (MINTTICS), Manuel Homem, has reappointed Dr Zolana Rui João as the director of Management Office of the National Space Program (GGPEN). The reappointment happened via a dispatch dated 10 November 2021. Thus, Dr Zolana Rui João will continue managing Angola’s space agency, responsible for implementing the…
The Angolan National Space Programme
The National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN), established in 2010, is the government agency tasked with overseeing the Angola space program and activities. Its duties include promoting the peaceful use of space, establishing cooperation agreements with technical and scientific institutions in the space industry, and capacity building and knowledge sharing to the Angolan people.…
Large Satellite Assembly, Integration and Testing Certification
More than 25 specialists from the Angolan National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN) are undergoing training for the international certification in assembly, integration and testing (AIT) of large satellites, including electrical and thermal vacuum tests. This training results from the existing partnership between Angola, Russia and Airbus under the ANGOSAT-2 project.
However, this is the…
Angola to Guide Mozambican Space Programme, Mozambican Delegation
The Angola minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication (MINTTICS), Engineer Manuel Homem, received a delegation from the Mozambique Ministry of Transport and Communications in Luanda, Angola, on 12 October 2021.
The purpose of the visit was to learn about the sector's structuring projects, particularly those linked to the national space program, to guide…