Advocating for a regional space agency and policy under the African blue skies
- Paper number
IAC-11,E3,1,14,x10604
- Author
Ms. Angeline Asangire Oprong, University of Bremen, Germany
- Year
2011
- Abstract
Africa’s progress in space continues to grow especially with the continent’s need of space applications to further its development. The utilization of space applications has enabled the African continent to ‘leapfrog’ technologically and tackle many of its most pressing issues in a feasible and cost-effective manner. Africa has watched and learnt from space-faring nations. Despite these advances, very few African countries have established space legislation, policies and space programmes. It is imperative that African countries look into other options such as taking a regional approach to argument their involvement in space activities and to add value to space exploration. To this end, can African countries make a breakthrough to effective use of space applications by way of setting up independent national space agencies and policies or would it be better for them to take a regional approach by pooling their resources and implementing a regional space agency modified for the African context? If the latter is favored, should such an institution be placed under the auspices of the African Union or the African New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)? If not, are there any other suitable platforms for the implementation of a regional model? This paper analyses current space policies of several African countries. It highlights the advantages and disadvantages of a regional approach versus a national approach for Africa. Finally, this paper argues in favor of regional space agency and policy and provides concrete recommendations for future developments, and other avenues to be followed in order to progress towards a proposed regional approach.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)