• Angola begins development of its first Earth observation satellite, ANGEO-1

• The €225 million project is being carried out with Airbus in France

• The satellite aims to support resource management, security, and policy planning

Angola has officially launched the construction and deployment of its first Earth observation satellite, ANGEO-1, marking a major step in the country’s push to build its own space capabilities.

The project, valued at about €225 million (around $259 million), is being developed in partnership with Airbus. The launch ceremony took place on March 16 at Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Toulouse, France, in the presence of Telecommunications Minister Mário Augusto da Silva Oliveira.

According to Angola’s National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN), the satellite will give the country direct and sovereign access to more than 1,000 high-resolution images per day.

The statement said this capacity will be critical to supporting economic development, improving natural resource management, and strengthening territorial security, while enhancing the government’s ability to design public policies and make strategic decisions based on reliable data.

The ANGEO-1 project is part of Angola’s broader National Space Program. Authorities aim to shift the country from a user of space services and technologies to a producer and operator, strengthening its technological independence.

Beyond telecommunications, the program includes a full Earth observation strategy focused on environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, natural resource management, and disaster prevention.

As part of this effort, President João Lourenço announced in October 2025 the creation of a national space agency. Angola’s ICT White Paper for 2023–2027 also outlines plans to establish a space research center, train local experts, and develop infrastructure in communications, navigation, and meteorology.

Isaac K. Kassouwi