The Egyptian Space Agency will send two new satellites into space in 2022. These are NExSat-1, intended for remote sensing and scientific research, and EgyptSat 2 which will be used for Earth observation. The information was announced last June 11 by Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, the Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, at the Euro-African Space Forum held for two days in Lisbon, Portugal.
The country wants to become a reference in the African space industry. "We aim to transform Egypt into a center for training, research and development in space activities [...] to develop and support emerging technologies, to disseminate the use of satellite images to support activities, especially in the field of agriculture, and to stimulate exploration and innovation," said Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar.
On March 6, 2020, Egypt adopted a new 10-year space development plan, seven months after the establishment of the new space authority that has already piloted the launch of four satellites into space. Capacity building, development of space missions, modernization of facilities to support the growth of the commercial space industry, development of international cooperation, and development of a strong legal foundation are the pillars of the new space program.
Through this program, Egypt wants to break the dependence of most African countries on foreign infrastructure for communications, earth observation, meteorology, disaster management, etc. The country is seeking to move from customer to service provider and tap into the growing business opportunities offered by the sector.
Muriel Edjo
• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from...
• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo...
• Investors seem to keep focusing on yields, which are high for the moment• New Leadership might see...
• Kenyan President William Ruto signs strategic partnership with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to b...
• IFC teams up with AfDB and Nigeria’s EbonyLife to assess a new fund for African cinema• Sector cou...
• Eskom restored Medupi Unit 4 early, adding 800 MW and helping end load-shedding• Coal still dominates South Africa’s power, slowing the energy...
• Ethiopia completed the $4B Grand Renaissance Dam to boost power capacity and energy independence• Egypt and Sudan fear water supply risks, with no...
WAEMU states collectively raised nearly 7,000 billion CFA francs in the first half of 2025, a record amount driven by increased financing needs, the...
The Tropical Forest Forever Facility, an initiative supported by the BRICS nations, aims to reward countries for preserving their forests. This presents a...
The Gerewol tradition is a fascinating ritual celebrated by the Bororo Fulani, a nomadic community primarily located in Chad and Niger. This annual...
In northern Ethiopia, in the Tigray region, lies Axum (also spelled Aksum), an ancient city that once stood at the heart of one of Africa’s most powerful...