Senegal made history in 2024. The small Western African country joined the space race by launching its first satellite, GaindéSAT-1A, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 116 satellites into orbit.
While the development of the tiny spacecraft is a proud movement for Senegal, it also represents Africa’s growing ambitions in space technology, which was previously believed to be beyond the continent’s capabilities.
As it stands, 19 African countries have defined (or are defining) national space programmes, some of which are party to space treaties of the United Nation (UN). About 17 African countries have launched over 60 satellites, with about 80 more still under development. At the heart of this expanding momentum is the African Union Commission’s establishment of the African Space Agency (AfSA), with its headquarters in Cairo’s new Egyptian Space City.
This milestone marks the first step of Africa’s seriousness in global space innovation, and moves the continent away from simply a consumer of technologies generated elsewhere.
However, there are important questions that need to be answered, than celebrations-Can AfSA provide meaningful results and build long-term development, or will it be muffled by bureaucracy and underfunding?
African Space Industry
Space technology is essential to Africa. The era when it was a luxury for wealthy Western countries and emerging Asian nations are over. Satellite data can be used to solve Africa’s most serious developmental issues. It can help with climate monitoring, disaster response, education, smart agriculture, and even telemedicine.
Nine years after the African Union (AU) first adopted its continental space policy, a major milestone was reached this week with the official opening of the Africa Space Agency (AfSA) headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. The launch marks a significant leap toward unifying and scaling Africa’s space science and technology agenda for development.
Africa’s space economy is projected to exceed $22 billion by 2026, an improvement from its $19.49 billion value in 2021, according to SpaceinAfrica.com. With its establishment, AfSA becomes the second regional space agency globally, following the European Space Agency (ESA), and aims to serve as a central hub for all 55 AU member states, fostering collaboration and innovation across the continent. However, efforts are generally dispersed. National programs like Nigeria’s NASRDA, South Africa’s SANSA, and Kenya’s fledgling space program have yet to attain scalable, continent-wide influence.
AfSA was set up to close this gap. Its mission is to coordinate African space endeavors, serve as a central coordinating hub, and raise the continent’s profile on the international scene. If it works, Africa may be transformed from an isolated landscape of underfunded state agencies to a coordinated space ecosystem capable of launching satellites, conducting earth observations, and contributing to international space science and trade. As a result, Angola’s leadership in satellite operations, Egypt’s advancement in satellite manufacturing, and the entry of new players like Djibouti into the sector are further highlighting Africa’s space development.
The benefits are tangible. Improved earth observation can contribute to food security by enabling smart farming. Satellite communications can help Africa’s urban-rural divide by linking distant people to education and healthcare. Accurate weather forecasting can help improve disaster preparedness on a continent that is becoming increasingly vulnerable to floods and droughts.
AfSA also has the potential to serve as a catalyst for Africa’s knowledge economy, as satellite engineering, space science, and data analytics investments have the potential to create high-wage jobs while also retaining talent.
The task ahead
Following its inauguration, the Africa Space Agency is set to become the central platform for coordinating the continent’s space collaboration with Europe and other global partners. Its launch was marked by strategic partnerships with major players including the European Space Agency (ESA), Russia’s Roscosmos, and the UAE Space Agency—alliances poised to enhance Africa’s space capabilities through technology transfer, joint missions, and collaborative research.
However, AfSA’s success will be dependent on more than symbolism and collaboration. The most pressing challenge is finance. Africa’s entire investment in space is roughly $7.7 billion, or less than 1% of the worldwide space budget. Satellite design, mission control infrastructure, and talent development are all significant long-term investments.
The AfSA’s reliance on AU member contributions raises issues. Many African countries face economic challenges and may struggle to meet financial commitments. History offers cautionary tales: various AU bodies have suffered from chronic underfunding, leading to inefficiency and blocked aims.
Beyond financing, governance will be a key test. The AU’s ponderous bureaucratic processes could clash with the agility space programs seek. Space policy analyst Ruvimbo Samanga advises that the African Space Agency must avoid “the slow turnover of decision-making” that characterizes many African institutions.
Political rivalries may also undermine cooperation. Unless the agency operates independently and transparently, free from interference and national politics, AfSA risks becoming another structure lacking real power.
Europe’s experience offers a guide. The European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975, has thrived by pooling resources and fostering collaboration across its 22 member states. ESA’s achievements — from earth observation to deep space exploration — stem from clear governance, consistent funding, and a shared continental vision.
AfSA must take similar steps. Its leadership must be pragmatic, emphasizing technical competence over political appointments. It must also embrace partnerships — not as a substitute for local development but as a means of building homegrown capacity.
Skeptics may still question the value of space investment when millions on the continent do not have electricity, education, and healthcare. But that’s a false binary. Investing in space does not detract from development — it enables it. The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development acknowledges space technology as essential for achieving key goals, from ending hunger to combating climate change.
Failure to develop local space capabilities will leave Africa dependent on foreign data and infrastructure, exposing the continent to long-term strategic vulnerabilities in agriculture, health, security, and urban planning.
AfSA’s future hinges on a few key factors: securing stable and diversified funding; building a professional and efficient bureaucracy; investing in African scientists and engineers; and aligning its projects with Africa’s real development needs.
AfSA for Africa goes beyond sending satellites to space., it represents the continent’s determination to control its own destiny in a world where technological self-reliance is increasingly tied to political and economic power.
