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Ethiopia joins the Space race – unveils East Africa’s largest observatory
(AFP) – Ethiopia unveiled last Friday the first phase of a space exploration program, which includes East Africa’s largest observatory designed to promote astronomy research in the region.
“The optical astronomical telescope is mainly intended for astronomy and astrophysics observation research,” said observatory director Solomon Belay.
The observatory, which was to formally be opened over the weekend, boasts two telescopes, each one meter (three feet) wide, to see “extra planets, different types of stars, the Milky Way, and deep galaxies,” Belay added.
The US$3.4 million dollar observatory, run by the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS), is partly funded by Ethiopian billionaire Mohammed Alamoudi.
The observatory, 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) above sea level in the lush Entoto mountains on the outskirts of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, is an ideal location because of its minimal cloud cover, moderate winds and low humidity, experts said.
When established in 2004, the Ethiopian Space Science Society was labelled as the “Crazy People’s Club”, according to the group, but has gained credibility in the past decade with astronomy courses introduced at universities and winning increased political support.
The Ethiopian government is set to launch a space policy in coming years.
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.