In a major leap for Senegal’s space aspirations, the Senegalese Space Study Agency (ASES) and PROMÉTHÉE Earth Intelligence, a leading French space technology firm, formally solidified their commitment to advancing space initiatives. The signing of a memorandum of understanding, reported by the Senegalese Press Agency (APS), signifies a joint effort to launch a groundbreaking constellation of 5 to 8 satellites dedicated to Senegal by 2028.

The memorandum, indicative of a broader commitment to scientific and technological collaboration, sets the ambitious goal of placing a sovereign satellite constellation in orbit for Senegal within the next four years. Maram Kaïré, the Director General of ASES, expressed confidence that the partnership would significantly contribute to the primary promotional objectives of Senegal’s space activities. “The implementation of this partnership, aligned with our roadmap, will undoubtedly contribute to achieving the primary promotional objectives of space activities,” Kaïré asserted.

The collaborative program, involving active participation from national stakeholders, aims to establish a robust industrial program. This initiative is geared towards fostering the growth of the Senegalese space ecosystem and providing essential support to local industries, including start-ups and the development of digital applications.

French Ambassador Christine Pages lauded the agreement as a substantial stride in fostering collaboration between Senegalese and French expertise, poised to elevate the nation’s space endeavors.

Olivier Piepsz, President of PROMÉTHÉE Earth Intelligence, outlined the joint objective of nurturing the newspace industry ecosystem, supporting small businesses, and engaging with the Senegalese educational system. Piepsz underscored the importance of enabling Senegal to comprehensively observe and understand its surroundings through technical know-how and integration capabilities.

During the AU-EU Dialogue in Dakar, Senegal last year, ASES also expressed a mutual intent the with the European Space Agency (ESA) to collaborate on space technology for Senegal.

With this move, Senegal has joined 20 other African countries that have space programs.

African nations are poised to emerge as formidable players in the space industry, leveraging the continent’s rapidly expanding space sector, existing institutional knowledge, and a sizable youth population that stands as the driving force for the next generation of space innovators.