Kenya Space Agency

In a move intended to enhance the utilization of space technology in addressing agricultural challenges, the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) today held discussions on the potential of implementing an Agriculture EO decision support pilot project in Murang’a County. Led by the Ag DG Brig. Hillary Kipkosgey, the KSA team and collaborating stakeholders presented a multi-phased pilot project proposed to be undertaken within 1 year. The pilot project which is focused on Land Use Land Cover, crop-type mapping, crop condition monitoring and crop yield estimation is aimed at developing an agricultural decision support model leveraging on the use of satellite derived data. Based on the lessons learnt in Murang’a, the team would explore rolling it out to other counties, and eventually nationwide, in support of Kenya’s broader mission of achieving food security through innovative technological solutions. During his remarks at the meeting, Brig. Kipkosgey praised the visionary leadership of Murang’a County Governor, Dr. Irungu Kang'ata, acknowledging the county's transformation into a model for leveraging technology in development. Brig. Kipkosgey highlighted the immense potential of space-derived data in providing critical insights into the environment, climate, and agricultural practices. He emphasized that space technology can significantly enhance decision-making in agriculture by providing precise data on crop health, crop yield and land. The Governor thanked the Agency for identifying Murang’a County to undertake this project. He noted that the county was implementing numerous initiatives that could potentially benefit from using geospatial data. He informed the DG KSA, that the county was ready and looking forward to the implementation of the project. Charles Mwangi Girmaw Abebe Tadesse Bartholomew Thiong'o Kuria, PhD, MISK Kiringai Kamau

A quick recap of the Draft Kenya Space Bill Public Participation event! Thank you to everyone who joined, both in person and online, making it a great success! Jacques matara Charles Mwangi Mercy Kamau #spacelaw #spacepolicy #spacesector #spaceagency

The Draft Kenya Space Bill 2024 is being presented at a hybrid public participation forum held on 31 October–1 November 2024. The forum brought together experts and stakeholders to finalize this landmark legislation that will guide Kenya’s space program and its role in the global space economy. In her opening remarks, Cabinet Secretary for Defence Hon. Roselinda Soipan Tuya, represented by Mr. Isaac Masinde, emphasized the bill’s crucial role in establishing a comprehensive legal framework to govern and advance Kenya’s national space program. She also emphasized Kenya’s commitment to aligning with international space law, fostering a thriving domestic space industry, and contributing to the $500 billion global space economy, projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035. This two-day event aims to further refine the bill with input from stakeholders and the public, aligning it with Kenya’s Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and international standards, as informed by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The Draft Kenya Space Bill 2024 aims to protect national interests, encourage private sector participation, and ensure the sustainable use of space technology across vital sectors such as agriculture, transportation, digital economy, and more. Ultimately, the bill seeks to enable Kenya to leverage space technology for socioeconomic development.

We are live. Use this link (https://t.co/S8oBm2t7zf) to join the public participation virtually and be part of the conversation.

The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) is thrilled to announce the commencement of the 2-Week residential Cubesat Training Course jointly organized with the Italian Space Agency (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) at the Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Centre in Ngomeni, Kilifi County. The training, which commenced today (28 October) and continues to 8 November 2024, is focusing on developing practical skills in Cubesat design and development. The training is facilitated by industry experts from the Italian Space Agency and professors from Sapienza University of Rome (Sapienza Università di Roma) This Cubesat training is a follow up to the on-line “Understanding Space” training conducted on 22 July 22 to 16 August 2024, organized by KSA and Teaching Science & Technology, Inc. (TSTI). The online training was intended to provide the participants with foundational understanding of theoretical knowledge on nanosatellite development. Following the online training, the five Kenyan University teams comprising 20 participants with the best mission ideas (SimbaSat, AgMonSat, FloodSat, KilimoSat and CombatSat), were selected to participate in the current training. The team has been joined by the Tafiti team (comprising University student representatives) and KSA technical staff, bringing the total number to 30 participants. This Cubesat Training Course is aimed to benefit the participants by equipping them with essential skills and experience in satellite development. The course is intended to bridge the technology gap and help Kenya develop its indigenous technical capabilities to drive future advancements in space science and technology. KSA and ASI were represented by Mr. Charles Mwangi and Dr. munzer jahjah respectively. Kenneth Kanda , Alberto Fedele (ASI), Giuseppe Leccese (ASI), Fabrizio Piergentili (Sapienza), Paolo Marzioli (Sapienza) Lorenzo Frezza

Please join the Africa Center for Strategic Studies on October 31st at 0800 EST / 1200 GMT for the webinar The Space Domain and Africa's Security Landscape. If you're interested in learning more about why humanity's growing presence in outer space is and will have growing strategic implications for Africa, this is the webinar for you. We've got a great line-up of speakers, including Space in Africa Managing Director Temidayo Oniosun, Angola National Space Program Managing Director Zolana Joao, D.Eng and Kenya Space Agency CEO Brig. Hillary Kipkosgey. Invitation / registration link below 👇

KSA, in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana), hosted a two-day workshop under the auspices of Copernicus-Africa Training of Trainers Program at KSA offices in Nairobi on 22-23 October 2024. The workshop which was facilitated by Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) team, brought together Kenyan participants from the Working Group Africa Training of Trainers program and KSA staff to reflect on the achievements and lessons learnt in integrating Copernicus-based modules in Earth Observation training. Key discussions focused on fostering synergies between Kenyan trainers and implementing the Training of Trainers program to develop local Copernicus champions to leverage on the use of the freely available Copernicus data and services. Participants explored how the Copernicus program can build long-term partnerships with local trainers and their institutions to enhance the adoption of Copernicus data for decision-making in Kenya. The workshop concluded with a consensus on structuring the network to support Earth Observation (EO)-based training and activities. This will ensure maximum value is derived from the freely available Copernicus data catalogue and ISPRA-developed analysis tools, which are designed to aid decision-making across various thematic sectors. The ASI team was led by Dr. munzer jahjah and ISPRA team by Prof. Andrea Taramelli.

Join us for the Public Participation on the Draft Kenya Space Bill 2024! 🚀 The Kenya Space Agency invites all stakeholders and the general public to a virtual session on 31st October - 1st November 2024, from 0900 hrs - 1300 hrs each day. This is your chance to provide feedback on the proposed legislation shaping the future of Kenya's space sector. 📍 Venue: Virtual 🔗 Meeting Link: bit.ly/40f8xoz 📅 Date: 31st October - 1st November 2024 🕒 Time: 0900 hrs - 1300 hrs Download the Draft Kenya Space Bill 2024 here: https://lnkd.in/djKCK6Ep

🚀 My First IAC Conference and UN/IAF Workshop – Definitely Not the Last! I had the incredible opportunity to attend and present at the 31st UN/IAF Workshop on Space Technology for Socio-Economic Benefits in Milan, Italy from October 11-13. The theme of the workshop was “Space Sustainability as a Game-Changer for Development”. I proudly shared insights about the Kenya Equatorial Spaceport Project, a key initiative to position Kenya as a launch destination of choice. Additionally, I represented the Kenya Space Agency at the International Spaceport Meeting, where I was the youngest person at the table 😁😊! It was humbling and inspiring to be part of such a knowledgeable group of experts who have spent decades in the field. One particularly insightful discussion revolved around Kenya’s potential to host U.S. launch providers. To do so, Kenya would need to become a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), demonstrating our commitment to preventing missile technology proliferation. This step would open doors for U.S. companies to partner with the Kenya Equatorial Spaceport , thanks to helpful insights from Federal Aviation Administration Officials. At the IAC2024 I also presented two technical papers in the Space Transportation Systems and Spaceports and Launch Vehicles D6 Session, focusing on Kenya’s strategic location to support space launch activities—particularly significant as Africa currently has no operational spaceport. It was a pleasure to meet great minds like Markus Jäger , Chair of the IAF Space Transportation Systems Committee. Janet Tinoco , Patrick McCarthy who shared insightful presentations in the D6 Session on Spaceports and Launch Vehicles. Many thanks to the Kenya Space Agency ,United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) for enabling me to attend and present these papers. Brig. Hillary Kipkosgey Charles Mwangi Pam Underwood Hannah Browne Wanjiku Kanjumba Kenyatta University Aerospace Students Association (KUASA) Franck Koebel Francesco Santoro Gennaro Russo I look forward to participating in more IACs and UN/IAF Workshops, as we work toward using space technology to impact society in a sustainable way. 🌍🚀 #IAC2024 #KenyaSpaceAgency #SpaceSustainability #AerospaceLeadership #SpaceForAfrica

Happy Mashujaa Day from the Kenya Space Agency! Together, as we forge the future, let's continue to explore the endless possibilities beyond our skies.