Should Africa look to the stars?

Woow this is a great thing for me as an african. Its a sign that in the coming days we will no longer stretch our eyes to donors.
Now its high time mother africa shines like a star.

on one hand, i agree in pan-African initiatives such as these. the fact that the above initiatives holds great benefits to the continent as a whole something worth embracing. issues like climate change and its impact on our "dear old continent" is a reality and the necessary decisions must be made to help prevent the loss of lives and properties.
pulling together our meager resources most definitely is a step in the right direction.
but being an African, i am pessimistic of the success of such a programme. this is because, not only do most countries on the continent lack the necessary resources, but also,
1. we all as individual member states have different priorities,
2. different levels of development,
3. have failed in the past to commit to grand pan-African initiatives,
4. and we do not have good culture of maintenance in most countries

in my view, this initiative should be limited to a few African countries that have both the resources and desire to participate if it is to be a success as they would stand to benefit directly.

the A.U. is a club of empty barbells making promises with little action even though it has great vision.

jake

Children are schooling under trees. Africa depend on hand outs from the west so what are these so called AU talking about? Maybe when these people and leaders of Africa stop stealing their nations money, we shouldn't be thinking about space for now, fix the roads, bring good drinking water, good medical care before this nonsense.

I think African leaders do not know exactly what they want or should I say they have run out of ideas as to how to solve the thousands of problem facing the continent.I think there are more important things calling for attention more than just wasting that huge resources on a space agency.Our people are dying daily of hunger and curalbe diseases,they should seek for ways to solve those first.

What would be the point of creating a space agency when the A.U cannot even get together to provide a PanAfrican television network to revamp Africa’s image which is fuzzy but friendly, or provide people with reliable energy in the form of renewable energy, or even provide food to the most impoverished countries for that matter? If the A.U. is serious about creating the genuine feeling of excitement using the space agency as an example of recreating pride collectively, as did during the liberation of Nelson Mandela, and at his inauguration as the first black president of South Africa, to make Africa shine by changing the fiction with concrete facts, then the A.U. might want to begin by explaining first to Africans how would this space agency change the reality of the people’s lives for the better.

Space belongs to all of us, the strong and the weak; the rich and the poor. African countries coming together to start a joint space work makes it cheaper and cost effective in terms of what it the intended outcome. Most space agencies are the privillage of the rich and scietifically minded nations. But wait a minute, who is running the agencies? They must be a combination of locals and internationals, including those from Africa.
The advantage for Africa is going to be multifold: attract the Africa space experts working elsewhere back to the continent; promoting and giving hope to the learning of science and mathematics; share and control over the space information currently the domain of the western wolrd; show of ability to wor together; and the pride of being able to do something unique for the local benefit. It is also a sign that Africa is maturing and letting ideal and objectivity lead.

Yes. Africa should develop its own space agency. It is cheaper and more efficient to develop a pan African organisation. It makes no sense to have 53 separate space organisations.

It is cheaper and more efficient to launch a rocket from the equator than from anywhere else on the globe. Africa is bisected by the equator. Customers from non equatorial countries will come to Africa to launch their satelites. It will be good business. The space agency will pay for itself.

The space agency will inspire young Africans to study science and technology.

I hope the space agency will show young Africans that it is possible to do advanced science and technology in Africa. They don't have to leave Africa to pursue careers in science and technology.

I hope the space agency is going to act as a blueprint for other pan African research and teaching institutions. Africa needs institutions on the model of the Indian Institutes of Technology.

I hope the space agency will act as a catalyst for closer cooperation among African countries and peoples.

Africa has been consumming the fruits of other people's labour in science and technology. It is time we started contributing to humankind's knowledge in the fields of science and technology. I hope the space agency will contribute to this.

In the first place such a question is very presumptuous in that it comes from the mindset that the whole of Africa is poor and behind in many aspect of technology; which in my opinion is not entirely true. Africa is rich in human and natural resources but is poor in so-called advanced countries standard of measuring success. But that's another story.
Now to the question; development of any time of space station should not be the preserve of any particular group of people. Everyone one on earth has to right to explore the universe to learn its dynamics and tap into its resources for the benefit of development of human life on earth.
However, the continent is now beset with so many problems which are all man-made that it seems embarking on such a venture would be a waste of resources.
No matter what Africa does for itself and on its own, the influence and the interference of the West will make it too difficult or near impossible for success. Right now many African governments are going to the Western countries with cap in hand in order to salvage their crushing economies, provide better medical care and education. If Africans will be honest and truthful to financial management and accountability developing a space station won't be problem. But as it is the question is not whether we can do it (which I believe we are more than capable of doing); but it should be will it benefit the common people.
My conclusion is, yes Africans can develop as space station on their own for Africans to help with technological advancement. We have both the human and natural resources for it. But our leaders are too corrupt to make this project benefit the people; and if the Western world stays away from interfering it will be work.

The basics first, perhaps? Such as infrastructure, effective state institutions? A decent education? Even job opportunities? Just a thought...

I am not an expert in space exploration. But, with my limited understanding of the subject,some of the benefits of space exploration includes: launching satelite for better communication,weather forecasting and national defense purposes. One of the most noticeable benefits of space exploration in developing countries,is the availability of mobile phones. Cell phones are now available even in the remote villages.If France, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands can all participate in in the Interntional Space Station, there is no reason why African Countries cannot or should not come together for space exploration. By pulling their resources together, it would even be more cost effective than each country going it alone.

It isn't a bad idea if African States could see themselves as "one" and work towards achieving something which will benefit this generation and the next generation because I see real potentials in individuals if they are to come together and share ideas.But I have a problem when such questions are being raised!This is because a lot of resources will be invested into it and the question is that if such project begins, can we maintain it? If it is yes,then why don't we take such initiative,who knows, this can raise our "status" to the next level as they are saying it will help Africa overcome many of it challenges.It isn't that we are wasting money but it will really do more good than harm.Let us consider it!

Trick question: How do you plunder public coffer and get away without attracting public anger? If you are thinking around coming up with high sky projects then you are just about right!
Seriously, what benefit will Space Agency bring to common citizen in terms of basic food and social security?
Africa's many challenges stem from just one thing: corrupt leadership!
What AU is proposing is nothing more than coming up with a scheme of fleecing their public and helping themselves at the expense of the entire continent. Given the many problems that spread over Africa, it is preposterous to assume that having a space agency will help in alleviating the conditions that citizens suffer.
I would like to add other questions to what you have already asked: is Africa capable in developing the technological equipments and human resources necessary to undertake such a project? To begin with, do we indeed have the resources needed to undertake this project or will we need to pass another bowl round? And finally, are these AU ministers going to ask their citizens to approve the project?
I hope Kenya is not supporting such a project and if it is, then at least it would be taken through a referendum!
This is fleecing of public funds by a starrish name.

Iddi Musyemi, Nairobi, Kenya.
[Personal details removed by Moderator]

Africa would have been closer to other poorer countries in Asia in terms of technology had its leaders abundant the corruption. While the impact of enslavement and the looting of natural resources by Europeans still affecting African government and its people for so long. I quest it will take a slow pace for any high tech to come to Africa otherwise unless something is done fast.

The ambition is good but not a priority to Africa as of now!I think our politicians are crazy sometimes because when they drive posh cars and live in mansions with the money they steal in government they think they are already in heavens forgeting the majority of people who are living on hand to mouth.

We can really use our limited resources for a better use.

Why should Africa not develop its own space agency, is space exploration the exclusive preserve of the West?

Your article states that the continent is ravaged by natural disaters, a somewhat misleading reference in my opinion, which continent does not have natural disasters, Europe of late has been bedeviled by almost yearly flooding and wildfires, Asia is victim to moonsoons and typhoons, America has floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and the polar ice cap is rapidly melting in Antartica, so i guess it would be fair to say or rather more accurate to say that each continent has its fair share of natural disasters and man made ones if we want to count numerous oil spillages that seem to plague America, the most recent being the BP Fiasco

If the continent can come together,it is a good thing, we have a European space agency, so why not an African one, do the oountries that make up the European space agency not have poor, destitute, marginalised and forgotten people within their borders?

I have always believed that anything which calls for an exceptional intellectual challenge is worth a shot. That is how one gains the respect of his contemporaries.

How much longer can Africa sit back and watch the Americas, Europe and even now the previously technologically-short Asian countries step up to the challenges of the future? You will remember that all countries, and the U.S, had detractors who thought their space programs were misplaced priorities, and some still think so; but they are in the minority now.

So let Africa set up its space program and call up the brightest Africans to the challenge. But I admit that we will have to also improve the way have funded science research till now if we are to realize any significant results.

To start of with, I think the idea is ridiculous. How can a continent which has yet to develop its own Motor Vehicle dream of a Space Agency. Its like a 5 year old kid telling you he wants to be a Doctor! How seriously would you take the child? No doubt, the child might grow up and become a doctor, but you don't put it in Medical School right away.

Now imagine that the child is deaf, dumb, blind, paralyzed, quarrelsome, is HIV+, and affected by every single disease and illness known to mankind. Would you still send the child to Harvard Medical School.

Let us go back to the days of miracles and assume that the child is able to become a doctor and the reason the child did that is to cure itself of all the above mentioned problems. I would like to advise parents not to fool themselves because it is impossible to cure oneself of such things. Take the example of India. India has got a space agency. Have they been able to rid India of poverty, hunger, HIV+, corruption, and the endless list of problems with any third world country.

I think the African politicians who were able to come up with ingenious ways to fool their populations have been playing "Civilization" too much. They need to have some thorough check ups done to think that an African Space Agency would even lift-off from the part of their brain where the thought occurred.

Dharmesh Savla.
Indian born Kenyan
[Personal details removed by Moderator]

African leaders should first reach and touch their own people before trying to reach for the skies.

To Dharmesh Savla.

You should get your facts right before committing them to cyberspace.

Africa does produce motor vehicles. South Africa has assembly plants for Daimler Benz and BMW. These vehicles are exported to other parts of Africa and to countries outside of Africa.

There is a home grown South African company that designs and manufactures military vehicles. These are exported all over the world.

Another home grown South African company designs and manufactures helicopters and light aircraft. Again, these are exported across the globe.

Again, in South Africa, there is a home grown company that designs and manufactures low cost satelites.

In Ethiopia, there is a home grown company, started by an engineer recently returned from the West, which designs and manufactures electric cars.

Africa has plenty of engineering talent, both at home and abroad. I know of a Ghanaian who works as a senior engineer for NASA.

Our problem, as Africans, is that we underestimate ourselves. Or we let ourselves be negatively influenced by outsiders.

To follow up on what Kingsley O said; an African Space Agency could be very beneficial for solving all the problems which currently exist and which many in their comments have stated as necessary to solve before thinking of developing a space agency.

An African Space Agency could for instance develop its own satellites to monitor the resources on the African continent (water availability, road infrastructure, effects of disasters, drought developments and moisture levels in the ground etc...), without needing to have personnel on the ground collecting this data. This would prove a safer solution for regions which are troubled by conflicts, as it is remote sensing, and it can quickly (within hours) give an overview over large regions and across country borders. For many of the purposes above, a microsatellite which can be rather small and cheap to develop, could be a sufficient solution.

So please consider that even if it might not seem like Africa as a whole is ready for this now (although some countries are), the return value of such a venture would be immense for all parties involved! And perhaps such a collaboration and co-dependence could lead to other indirect benefits as well (such as new partnerships or businesses evolving, also between countries - just look at the European model).

We don't have to look to the skies for hope wisdom or understanding, we are the creators of creation, people come to us for whatever they need,it's time our leaders wake up and stop preaching what they preach, preach the truth

[Personal details removed by Moderator] The African Space Institute launched earlier this year which is a registered non-profit organisation in South Africa created to promote, educate and assist with commercial space developments in Africa (we are active in South Africa and an asset in Tanzania). We have already presented a paper at the South African Space Symposium in Durban (May) and will be chairing the non-traditional ISR conference in London in October and giving a workshop on satellite use and capabilities in the African region as we have drawn up regional satellite center to assist with disaster management, food, weather monitoring etc. We are currently about to launch a number of initiatives and competitions to create awareness of space in Africa though a number of mediums so things are happening and we are working hard at getting the job done. We are wanting to bring together all the various sectors and get communication going, new ideas and collaboration.
The one issue with Africa is lack of communication, things like this with the ASA that suddenly pop up without much word is one example. There needs to be more collaboration and sharing of information, as the ASI we are getting there, we have had some great positive feedback from the public, government, industry and commerce. We have some very innovative initiatives and projects coming up that are a number of world firsts.

Anyone that wants to see our website can at https://www.africansi.org we will be relaunching a more interactive and informative site in the coming weeks.

Anyone wanting more information please contact me. Many thanks to the supporters of space developments in Africa.

I think Africa has got more problems to expiate than go to space for now. Africa had better spend its meagre fund on more important things.

Comments aplenty here about how space travel shouldn't just be the preserve of the west. I totally agree; all of mankind should share in the benefits and wonder of space exploration. However, the west doesn't have scores of countries failing to provide basic sanitation for its people. The west doesn't have civil wars spilling over each others borders. The west doesn't have rife HIV and AIDS rates ravaging entire populations.

Let Africa sort out democratic, stable government that can provide the basics for its people, then watch the west flood back to Africa to trade, as equals. Perhaps then we can discuss African space exploration. Anything else will lead to serious social problems as children starve while rockets fly.

If the African Nations want to waste their meagre resourses on Space exploration then let them go for it. Maybe they think the stars have the answer to their problems. I have spent many years in different African states and have always been suprised how child like the people can be. So easily lead and duped by their leaders, so misled by religion and the the whites. Hakuna Matata.

I see in such thoughts a much wider scheme.Let's start from here. It is official,AU is behind Omar El Bashir for better or for worse.At one point,they even threatened to delink themselves from ICC.Not long ago,they promised to send troops to fix the Somalia crisis.It's not on record that they have ever solicited the support of the international community when all indications are that they have failed so far.The same AU has never taken a strong stand against the happenings in Zimbabwe.One thing is certain in all these:africa through the AU is desperate to show the world that she has come of age and can now stand on its own.We have been branded the greatest consumers of knowledge and contributes neglibly towards the same.To me this is just another image cleaning exercise to cheat the world and the ruled that we are not badly off and can afford to pump cash into a project of this magnitude for we all know,investing in space science is not like a road recarpeting exercise.I oppose this initiative on the grounds that it glosses over more immediate concerns.Africa is plagued with everything from leadership crisis,wars,disease and hunger to human trafficking and Genital mutilation.We must surely learn to prioritise.With the right leadership,these more pressing issues could be fixed within a short period and africa be ready to experiment with 'maglev' trains and nuclear energy in under ten years.I do not deny it, mother africa is rich in many ways and can afford to explore space but it's just not about time,let's not rush things.Someday we will stand on our own and the ultimate test of maturity will be the day we cut ourselves from Aid!Let our leaders not cheat the world and the hungry masses that things are finally working in Africa.Finally, african leaders cannot be trusted to pull together for long(as someone just mentioned),lets not tie resources in rockets that might never take off before AU breaks up.

This is an Example again of the calibre of leaders we have in Africa. I am sorry to say but The 'so-called' African Union is a complete waste and a toothless dog.

Africa has serious problems ranging from corruption which has now become a part of the culture, to food production and security right down to poor governance. What is being done to address these issues but regionally and locally? Nothing, just a set of task forces, and other meaningless initiatives spear-headed by the corrupted vessels in the community. Now, they want to start a space program. For what Reason?

What will space do for Africa right now? Absolutely nothing.
why not use the time, money and effort to invest in other projects and programs that would help the region now.
There are too many issues to be dealt with right now, for these useless leaders to start dreaming of space.

I apologise for a seemingly angry tone. But the notion of an African Space Program is just insulting to the thousands dying everyday for hunger, strife, wars and others.

That's a nice fantasy. One that ministers will congregate once yearly to indulge in while their respective nations still struggle to decipher how their populations will be fed, clothed, educated, and kept safe. This ranks up there with the single currency fantasies. Guess dreaming doesn't do any harm (except for the monies that will be spent on this totally irrelevant adventure).

Space has it advantages: Africa could certainly do with an independent weather-monitoring system, dependent as we are on rain-fed agriculture. But that points to another of our shortcomings: Africa makes little or no use of its abundant rivers and lakes, which can easily be used to sustain massive agricultural projects.
Space-based weather monitoring that is focused on Africa could also assist to predict events like the recent flooding in Mozambique, which seem to be increasing by the year. The elephant in the climatic corner has always been what would happen if a massive weather disaster - say, a Katrina - hit Africa. The toll would be horrendous - a space-based early warning system would help predict such, and hence allow us to plan around the disaster - such as we would be able to.
Space-based systems can also be used to monitor temperatures across Africa, which is vital when fighting things like locust swarms and the spread of diseases and disease-causing parasites (e.g. mosquitoes and malaria).
For the yuppies in Africa, it certainly would be good to have GPS-based navigation of African cities - it is never fun getting lost in Lagos!
But can African governments, long known for their ridiculous inability to cooperate, really run a space programme successfully for any length of time? If the AU knows what's good for them, they should stump up the money and outsource the project to someone with the experience and the profit motive to run it well. Otherwise, it will become yet another waste of money.

After creation God gave humans the Garden of Edem as a sample of what he want us to develop the earth to be.

Now with less that 2% of Africa land mas developed and with hunger and starvation standing as the sure name of 97% of Africans , i can say that anybody taliking of spending any resource to develope any outer space project is only trying to creat avenue for fraud and embezzlement which are the only two things our African politicians are good in .

For me I can't see the benefit of space exploration except satisfying our curiosity. Nothing that much is important has come and will come out of such futile endeavor. Therefore, space exploration investment is too costly not only to Africa, but also to the rest of the world. I swear nothing very important will be gained from all the efforts we made and we will make at the end of the day. So, Africans should not go in to such gambling. But, one thing important for the world in relation to space science is having effective and efficient space satellites that will help to facilitate the communication of the world people so that they could mitigate some of the huge menaces, like poverty, ignorance, war, crime, etc. Africans should not think of having the space exploration target at any time, but I strongly support any space science and technology/infrastructure investment, if it has considerable bearing on eradication of poverty and disease and fostering countries development.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

[Personal details removed by Moderator] There are some things that I think questionable about points of view of Charlotte Attwood.
The institute has just established and the related project has just launched seeing on their website and activities as far as I looked for information online with a bit of my curiosity.

I think it is premature to discuss if it "is better for each country to develop its own space initiatives rather than work together" or assuming nor speculating its worthwhile to their cost.
I think emerging the new move that could be affected to wide range and many aspects of lives in grass-roots level to countries' level, should be appreciated before questioning its possibilities and its future capabilities.
There is a famous quote by John Wanamaker:
""I know that half of my advertising is wasted—I just don't know which half."
Given dramatic, drastic, and various changes of today's technologies, social, business transactions, and ways to carrying businesses on in would's business scenes, although the projects and ant others related to them would have many to challenge to get through in the future, there are still so many spaces to allow us to expect the new project and the newly-born institute for answers or solutions that countries in Africa haven't been able to solve so far regardless of numerous attempts with aids by UN and Western countries. [From the AHYS team: Charlotte is an AHYS producer and is not giving a "point of view" just summarising the key issues in the debate]

Some of the posts show either ignorance or misunderstanding of the subject. The main purpose of the African Space Agency is not to explore space. Its main purpose will be to launch satelites into geo-stationary orbit.

The European Space Agency, as far as I know, has never sent anyone to the moon. Now and again, they send an unmanned probe to Mars. Their main function is to launch satelites into geo-stationary orbit. For this, they charge their customers a hefty sum.

The African Space Agency will be able to launch satelites for far less money than the European Space Agency, the Russian Space Agency, the Chinese Space Agency or the Indian Space Agency.

I suspect that some of the objections, especially from European posters, may be due to commercial rivalry. Obviously, Europeans don't want another competitor in the space industry.

Some posters argue that we must have running water and flushing toilets for every single citizen on the African continent before we begin to think of developing a space industry. This is a fallacious argument. By this same argument, we shouldn't build schools until everyone has running water in their home.

In the 1950s and 60s countries like the UK were spending huge amounts of money developing a nuclear bomb while the majority of their citizens had no access to indoor plumbing. The majority were still using coal to heat their homes.

The social and commercial benefits of a space industry far outweigh those of a nuclear bomb.

The benefits of a space industry to Africa have already been pointed out by others. In my estimation, the benefits of a space industry to Africa far outweigh those of the internet, for example.

Here is the information about the International Space Weather (ISWI) and how universities in Africa can benefit from the ISWI program. There are currently over a thousand instrument deployed worldwide but only 16 in Africa. The ISWI program is a good example of how university professors and students in Africa can participate as active members of an international space research team.

The new International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI) is designed to promote the observation, understanding, and prediction of the space weather phenomena.

The basic principles of the ISWI model is simple. The lead scientist provides the ground instrument. The host country in Africa provides the workforce, facilities, and operational support necessary to operate the instrument. This is typically at a local university.

Interested professors in Africa need to contact:
Joseph M. Davila
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
email: Joseph.M.Davila@nasa.gov
https://iswi-secretariat.org/

or information on research and educational experience for student internships, please contact:

Linda Rodgers
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Education Office

Linda.L.Rodgers@JPL.nasa.gov

Africa ancient path way to space is the answer.

Indeed, it is only with the understanding and realization that we African are essentially the boundless glorious spiritual head being nature made idol universal figure symbol seal of life, that Africans can wake up from the delusion that has hypnotized them into thinking Africa real face value image nature made idol universal figure complex building heart center temple house body of manhood cosmic kind of beast as been evil as in the light of ugly wicked old witch as can from the cosmic micro wave radiation background of Atlantic ocean current motion view from NASA APOLLO 17 Mission photograph view of planet earth image of Africa. It is this ignorance of ones own spiritual nature that is the root of lack of self sovereignty sustainable development to rule your world and then colonized the space while African look to the stars in air form central core fluid intelligent system atmosphere complex building heart center temple house body of knowledge in one body language symbol seal of life.

In fact, African leaders have once again demonstrated their inability to work for Africa. Honestly, I never thought these leaders have any thought for their people and yes they have confirmed that and demonstrated the fact that they are representatives of the western world. A couple of question: How can hungry people be thinking about space technology when they have not even mastered simple agricultural production techniques? How do they intend to rais money for such a worthless project? Who are the Scientists who will work on the supposed space station? Which companies in Africa can produce the equipments needed for running the stupid station? Who initiated this idea and for what? Africa is swamped with hunger from North to South, East to West but these leaders have not concerted to resolve that basic human need that is presently ravaging Maputa city in Mozambique, but they suddenly want to run a race with the West. In sum, they want to indebt future generation Africans with loans from the West and send back the loans to the West including valuable natural resources in the name of "space station"! I sincerely think no forwward thinking African should even be discussing this issues. Mr Presidents, please search your minds and hearts to see whether this initiative is for the good of your people or your masters, wake up, wake up and face realities. Listen to the voice of your crying and dying people, don't fall a victim !!!

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Its a good idea for Africa to reach this level.This means, as Africans, we are also reaching some level of development.

No. It's a waste of money. Feed peope first. Educate people first. Build infrastructure first. The list goes on. Going to space will benefit maybe 1% of people. Not enough for the cost. Why go to space anyway. Theres no need.