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Ethiopia joins the Space race – unveils East Africa’s largest observatory
The Ethiopian Space Science Society initially faced sceptics in Ethiopia and abroad, who questioned whether space exploration was a wise use of resources. However, according to Belay, promoting science is key to the development in Ethiopia, today one of Africa’s fastest growing economies largely based on agriculture.
“If the economy is strongly linked with science, then we can transform a poor way of agriculture into industrialization and into modern agriculture,” he said.
The ESSS is now looking to open a second observatory 4,200 meters (13,800 feet) above sea level in the mountainous northern town of Lalibela, also the site of the largest cluster of Ethiopia’s ancient rock-hewn churches.
The country will also launch its first satellite in the next 3 years, ESSS said, to study meteorology and boost telecommunications.
Ethiopia is not the first African nation to look to the skies; South Africa has its own National Space Agency, Nigeria has already launched 3 satellites and in 2009 the African Union announced plans to establish The African Space Agency.
