comment Development in astronomy and space science in Africa The development of astronomy and space science in Africa has grown significantly over the past few years. These advancements make the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals more achievable, and open up the possibility of new beneficial collaborations. Mirjana Pović, Michael Backes, Paul Baki, David Baratoux, Solomon Belay Tessema, Zouhair Benkhaldoun, Michael Bode, Nana A. Browne Klutse, Phil Charles, Kevin Govender, Ernst van Groningen, Edward Jurua, Alemiye Mamo, Sivuyile Manxoyi, Vanessa McBride, Jamal Mimouni, Takalani Nemaungani, Pheneas Nkundabakura, Bonaventure Okere, Somaya Saad, Prospery C. Simpemba, Tefera Walwa and Abdissa Yilma Until recently, South Africa with the with the aim of developing space science and science and aerospace technology. Currently Southern African Astronomical technology in the country and wider region, some of the main objectives of ISRA are Observatory (SAAO) and and using it for addressing some of the main the establishment of a satellite ground Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy challenges that the country is facing, such as station, launch of an educational CubeSat, Observatory (HartRAO), Namibia with the access to water, agricultural productivity and design of aerial surveillance systems and High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS), so on. Ethiopia has serious plans to develop the establishment of an astronomical and Morocco, Algeria and Egypt with their both space and ground-based systems exploration centre and ground-based optical observatories, were almost the only related to satellite technologies. ESSTI telescope. In addition, and in relation to astronomy references in Africa. Also, South is now working on its first microsatellite space science, Sudan’s National Centre for Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria were the (~65 kg) and is planning to launch its first Research established the Institute of Remote only four African countries with established remote sensing and telecommunications Sensing and Seismology. satellite programmes. In recent years, many satellites in the next few years. In addition, In West Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and other countries began research activities several public universities are becoming Burkina Faso have made significant in astronomy and space science (A&SS), more engaged in A&SS. There are plans to developments in A&SS. The Ghana Space starting with institutional development, establish a larger optical observatory in the Science and Technology Institute was human capacity development (HCD), near future in northern Ethiopia (Lalibela), established in 2012 as a coordinating scientific research and networking. The with a ~4 m telescope, and to convert body of A&SS development. Ghana is the African Union (AU) took important steps Ethiopia into an attractive location for future only West African country to have joined in promoting the development of A&SS on astronomical projects. the SKA as a partner country. As part of a continental scale for improving some of In Kenya, a few projects underscore the AVN, the Ghana Radio Astronomy the main socioeconomic and environmental recent institutional developments. It became Observatory was established in August 2017, challenges that Africa is facing, and for one of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) covering the frequency range 4–8 GHz with achieving United Nations Sustainable partner countries (the only one in the East a single 32-m dish converted from a satellite Development Goals (UN SDGs). This African region). A precursor to the SKA, communications Earth station antenna Comment aims to provide an overview of the 32-m Longonot telecommunications (Fig. 2). In 2017, Ghana launched its first the current status and future prospects of dish is expected to be available this year for remote sensing CubeSat to be used mainly A&SS in Africa. conversion into a radio telescope under the for coastline long-term monitoring and African Very Long Baseline Interferometry mapping, and for HCD. Institutional development Network (AVN). Kenya has plans to In Nigeria, the Centre for Basic Space In East and northeast Africa, Ethiopia, establish its first optical observatory in Science (CBSS) was created in 2001. A Kenya and Sudan have made the most the near future. Funding has been secured team of engineers and scientists at the significant achievements. In 2005 in in 2018 through the UK Astronomy CBSS successfully assembled and installed Ethiopia, the Institute of Geophysics, Space Technology Centre to complete surveys of a 3-m radio telescope, in order to better Science and Astronomy was established two sites. In February 2017, the Kenya Space understand the operation and control as a national seismological, geomagnetic Agency was established with the aim to of such a telescope. CBSS is part of the and geodetic observatory. The Ethiopian develop space science and technology, and National Space Research and Development Space Science Society played a crucial role the first Kenyan remote sensing CubeSat, Agency (NASRDA), established in in establishing the Entoto Observatory and developed in collaboration with the Japan 1998. NASRDA is the main body for Research Centre in 2013, creating the first Aerospace Exploration Agency, was implementing Nigeria’s space programme, optical observatory in East and Central launched in May 2018. which includes the development of Africa with its two 1-m telescopes (Fig. 1). In 2013, Sudan established the Institute basic space science and technology, In 2016, the Ethiopian Space Science and of Space Research and Aerospace (ISRA) for remote sensing, satellite meteorology, Technology Institute (ESSTI) was established developing different fields of space communication and information Nature astroNomy | www.nature.com/natureastronomy © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved. comment a National Data Center, the Kottamia Center Belgium), the RENOIR experiment for of Scientific Excellence in Astronomy and monitoring the ionosphere for space Space Sciences, and operates the Kottamia weather (with USA), and the OWL-Net Astronomical Observatory (KAO), a solar 0.5-m telescope for satellite re-entry and telescope and a satellite laser-ranging the monitoring of near-Earth objects (with b station at Helwan, and Abu Simble and South Korea) 4. The High Energy Physics Misallat magnetic observatories. KAO is and Astrophysics Laboratory also plays an one of the oldest observatories in Africa, important role in Moroccan astrophysical with its 75-inch telescope. The country development. Morocco has just launched a has plans to build the largest telescope in satellite called Mohammed VI-A, part of the the Arab region, the ~6-m Egyptian Large space science programme led by the Royal Optical Telescope, possibly in northern Centre for Remote Sensing. Tunisia does not Sinai (site testing is in progress). Egypt’s yet have its own professional infrastructures National Authority for Remote Sensing and in astronomy, but has set up a Tunisian Space Sciences has several different centres Astronomical Society. and laboratories, which collectively have In southern Africa, South Africa launched six satellites between 1998 and (SA) continues to be the major player 2014, and a new remote sensing satellite is in A&SS. It is the only country in the on the way. The Space Weather Monitoring south with an established national space Center was established in 2008, aiming to agency (SANSA), and has launched two support the Egyptian space programme, satellites. The Department of Science and and help with space weather prediction. Technology identified astronomy as one The Egyptian Space Agency is on the way of the key drivers of their international to being established, and has already been science collaboration agenda, and voted on in Parliament. This agency would developed the National Strategy for Multi- aim to work on the future development wavelength Astronomy in 2015. The first of space science and technology, create phase of SKA-SA, MeerKAT, involving the a satellite-manufacturing centre, launch construction of the 64-dish radio array, satellites from Egyptian territory, and has now been completed (see the Mission Fig. 1 | the entoto observatory and research serve the country’s strategy in areas of Control by Fernando Camilo). The SKA-SA Centre, addis ababa, ethiopia. a, The development and national security. and HartRAO recently merged to become observatory. b, The 1-m telescope. Credit: Getnet In Algeria, most astronomy research the South African Radio Astronomy Gebereegziabher activities are carried out at the Centre de Observatory. The SAAO continues operating Recherche en Astronomie Astrophysique the South African Large Telescope and some et Géophysique. Apart from the Bouzaréah 20 other South African and international technology, and defence and security1. Observatory (and an 80-cm telescope), there telescopes (as well as geophysical and space Since 2003, Nigeria has had three satellites are plans to build two new observatories: science instruments). SA is now hosting in orbit including NigComSat-1R, built in one in the Aurès (northern Algeria), and MeerLICHT (together with the Netherlands China, which was launched in 2011 and another near Tamanrasset (southern and UK), a robotic 0.65-m optical telescope boosted Internet and telecommunication Sahara). The Observatoire National des that is synchronized with MeerKAT to services across the country. Currently, the Aurès will cooperate with the European scan the southern skies at optical and radio NigeriaSat-2 Earth observation satellite is Virgo programme to optically follow up wavelengths simultaneously. The AVN producing higher resolution images than gravitational wave detections. Space research is making progress, and all African SKA any other UK-built satellite. is mainly undertaken at the Centre des member countries (including Namibia, In Burkina Faso, at the Université Techniques Spatiales (CTS) at Arzew. The Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Mauritius de Ouagadougou, a project is under CTS is in charge of developing the Algerian and Madagascar) signed a memorandum development to establish an astronomical microsatellite programme (AlSat series), of understanding in 2017 to collaborate on observatory for research on Mount which launched several satellites under the radio astronomy. It is planned that in phase Djogari and install the 1-m MarLy optical Algerian Space Agency. Two centres for the 2 of the SKA (expected to begin in 2025), telescope that was moved from the La Silla use and exploitation of satellite data were thousands of dishes will be built in SA and Observatory in Chile to Burkina Faso in established and the Institute National de African partner countries. Mauritius (in 20102. Senegal also has plans to develop Géodésie et de Télédétection is the main collaboration with India) has operated a research astronomy in the near future. The remote sensing centre3. radio telescope (MRT) at 151.5 MHz upcoming NASA experiment to observe a In Morocco, astronomy has developed since 1992. stellar occultation by the trans-Neptunian significantly over the past few years, In Namibia, the University of Namibia object 2014 MU69 is supported by the especially due to the inauguration of the (UNAM) and the Namibia University of Senegalese government and will foster USA– Oukaïmeden Observatory in 2007. Different Science and Technology (NUST) are the Senegal collaborations in astronomy. projects and collaborations are running, two institutes most involved in A&SS. In North Africa, Egypt’s National including: a remote 0.5-m telescope for a UNAM is one of the founding members of Research Institute of Astronomy and survey of small Solar System bodies called HESS, a system of five imaging atmospheric Geophysics (NRIAG) was established the Morocco Oukaïmeden Sky Survey Cherenkov telescopes, and one of the more than 110 years ago and conducts (with Switzerland and France), the 0.6-m leading gamma-ray observatories in the activities under five different departments, TRAPPIST-North telescope for detecting world (see the Mission Control by Mathieu including A&SS. NRIAG also established the transiting planets and planetesimals (with de Naurois). The Namibian Institute of Nature astroNomy | www.nature.com/natureastronomy © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved. © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved. comment for Development (see the Comment by Vanessa McBride et al.). And from 2000 the South African National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme has trained hundreds of MSc students in A&SS from a variety of African countries. This includes many non-SA students who returned to their home countries and have greatly assisted in the creation of an African network for A&SS. Continental initiatives Recently, the AU developed the Common Africa Position on the Post-2015 Development Agenda to define a framework facilitating the achievement of the UN SDGs. The AU recognizes the importance of investing in space sciences and technology, and defines it as one of fundamental factors for achieving sustainable socioeconomic and environmental development of African countries. The AU recently published Fig. 2 | the Ghana radio astronomy observatory, Kuntunse. The Ghanaian engineers were trained by the African Space Strategy to create South African experts. Credit: Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute a space programme on a continental level, defining key priority areas: social, economic and political affairs and their Space Technology was established under partner countries, and are contributing union toward the total integration. To the NUST. There are plans to build the first strongly to HCD in radio astronomy (see the deliver on these areas, four fields of science millimetre-wave radio telescope in Africa in Comment by Melvin Hoare). were selected to be developed within the Namibia (together with the Netherlands)5. Uppsala University’s International continent: Earth observations (to address Botswana has very ambitious plans Science Programme (ISP) provides long- Africa’s socioeconomic opportunities and for the next five years: completion of its term support (up to 20 years or more) challenges), navigation and positioning AVN node and significant involvement in and assists low-income countries to build (for improving safety-of-life applications), the SA HIRAX radio astronomy project; and strengthen their domestic capacity for satellite communications (for improving the establishment of a National Remote research and postgraduate education. In information communication technologies Sensing Centre; and the building of a East Africa, ISP supports the East African for commercial purposes and for the National Optical Observatory. Zambia is in Astronomy Research Network, comprising broader public good, especially in rural a process of converting the redundant 30-m Muni University (the coordinating office) areas), and space science and astronomy Mwembeshi telecommunications Earth and Mbarara University of Science and (for stimulating human capital and station into a radio telescope to form part Technology (MUST) in Uganda, the technological spin-offs). To help achieve of the AVN. University of Rwanda, and the ESSTI in these goals, the African Space Agency was Ethiopia. MUST and the University of recently established. Human capacity development Rwanda (through the Rwanda Astrophysics, The progress that African countries have Space and Climate Science Research Improving the future made in HCD in recent years, often in Group) are also supported as individual Africa has amazing potential due to collaboration with international institutions, research groups. natural (such as large areas with dark night is remarkable. The number of employed In 2017 a new widely supported initiative skies) and human resources for scientific researchers in A&SS has increased named the Africa Initiative for Planetary and research in A&SS. At the same time, the dramatically. Many countries established Space Sciences was launched, with its main continent is still facing many difficulties, graduate programmes at their universities objectives to: (1) connect African planetary and countries are now recognizing the (for example, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and space science (PSS) researchers with importance of astronomy, space science and Ethiopia, Uganda, Namibia, Kenya, Sudan their international peers by facilitating cross- satellite technology for improving some of and Nigeria), while many others are in the border collaborations while overcoming their main socioeconomic and ecological process of doing so. Public awareness and traditional language barriers; (2) build a challenges. As described above, many outreach has increased exponentially in road map for PSS in Africa by identifying achievements have already been realized due almost all countries. And at the same time key research areas where scientists can make to incredible efforts, but much still remains networking among African institutions significant contributions; and (3) contribute to be done. Strengthening the networks and between African and international to sustainable development in Africa between African countries is fundamental institutions improved significantly, through research, education and public for achieving the proposed continental contributing to both HCD and research. outreach in PSS6. goals. Exchange of knowledge and The Development in Africa with Radio Since 2013, many projects across the experience with international institutions Astronomy (DARA) and SKA-HCD continent related to HCD and networking and research groups, and the promotion of projects are working on the AVN training have been supported by the International new collaborations are very much needed programmes in all eight African SKA Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy at this moment and can be beneficial for all. Nature astroNomy | www.nature.com/natureastronomy © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved. © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved. comment Only in this way, working together on the Institute for Sustainable Development, Géosciences Astronomy for Development, Copperbelt University, development of science and education in Environnement Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Kitwe, Zambia. 22Ethiopian Space Science Society, Africa, can we fight poverty in the long term Toulouse, France. 7Oukaïmeden Observatory and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. and increase our possibilities of attaining the the Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco. *e-mail: mpovic@iaa.es UN SDGs in future. ❐ 8Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana. 9Ghana Space Published: xx xx xxxx Mirjana Pović1,2*, Michael Backes3,4, Paul Baki5, Science and Technology Institute, Accra, Ghana. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0525-x David Baratoux6, Solomon Belay Tessema1, 10University of Southampton, Southampton, References Zouhair Benkhaldoun7, Michael Bode8, UK. 11Office of Astronomy for Development 1. Boroffice, R. A. Afr. Skies 12, 40–45 (2008). Nana A. Browne Klutse9, Phil Charles10, (IAU), Cape Town, South Africa. 12South African 2. Carignan, C. Afr. Skies 16, 18–20 (2012). 3. Mimouni, J. in The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture (IAU Kevin Govender11,12, Ernst van Groningen13, Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town, South Symposium 260) 741–747 (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 2011). Edward Jurua14, Alemiye Mamo1,15, Africa. 13International Science Programme, Uppsala 4. Benkhaldoun, Z. Nat. Astron. 2, 352–354 (2018). Sivuyile Manxoyi12, Vanessa McBride11,12, University, Uppsala, Sweden. 14Mbarara University 5. Backes, M. et al. Proc. Sci. https://doi.org/10.22323/1.275.0029 (2017). 6. Baratoux, D. et al. Eos https://doi.org/10.1029/2017EO075833 (2017). Jamal Mimouni16, Takalani Nemaungani17, of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda. Pheneas Nkundabakura18, Bonaventure Okere19, 15East African Regional Office of Astronomy for Acknowledgements Somaya Saad20, Prospery C. Simpemba21, Development, ESSTI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This paper is dedicated to all of the people who somehow Tefera Walwa22 and Abdissa Yilma1 16Mentouri University, Constantine-1, LPMPS, contributed to the development of A&SS in Africa. Without them all of this would not be possible. In addition, this 1Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute, Algeria. 17Department of Science and Technology, paper was inspired by sessions SS23 and LS7 during the Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 2Instituto de Astrofísica de Pretoria, South Africa. 18University of Rwanda, 2018 European Week of A&SS (EWASS). Both sessions Andalucía (CSIC), Granada, Spain. 3Department of Kigali, Rwanda. 19West African Regional Office of were supported by the UK Science and Technology Physics, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia. Astronomy for Development, NASRDA, Centre for Facilities Council, UK Royal Astronomical Society, 4 20 International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy Centre for Space Research, North-West University, Basic Space Science, Nsukka, Nigeria. National for Development, European Astronomical Society, Potchefstroom, South Africa. 5Technical University of Research Institute of Astronomy & Geophysics, International Science Programme, and Development in Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya. 6French National Research Cairo, Egypt. 21Southern African Regional Office of Africa with Radio Astronomy project. Nature astroNomy | www.nature.com/natureastronomy © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved. © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved.