Space science capabilities depend on quality education

In December 2019, Ethiopia became the 11th African country to have launched a 72kg remote sensing microsatellite (ETRSS-1) into space, joining the ranks of Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Sudan. In East Africa, Ethiopia was third after Kenya and Rwanda.

ETRSS-1 was co-designed by Chinese and Ethiopian engineers. The Chinese government is said to have paid about US$6 million of the more than US$7 million in manufacturing costs.

The satellite is operating optimally, and data obtained is used for applications in different sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, water resource monitoring, flood monitoring and other similar applications, Space in Africa reported on 30 May 2021.

Exactly a year after launching the ETRSS-1, on 22 December 2020, Ethiopia launched its second 8.9kg nanosatellite (ET-SMART-RSS). ET-SMART-RSS was again designed and built through Ethio–Chinese cooperation. The Chinese government paid US$1.5 million in manufacturing costs. Plans are under way to launch five to 10 more satellites over the next 10 years.

Space a luxury for developing countries?

For too long, space science and technology have been regarded as a domain exclusively for developed countries and a luxury for developing countries.

However, many developing countries are increasingly realising the key role space technology plays in their national aspirations. Its values in many areas, including food security and agriculture, telecoms, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian crisis prevention, as well as natural resources and environment management, are now widely recognised.

Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen’s, speech at the launch event of the country’s satellite in 2019 reflected this understanding: “This will be a foundation for our historic journey to prosperity. Space is food, space is job creation, a tool for technology, sovereignty, to reduce poverty, everything for Ethiopia to achieve universal and sustainable development.”

On a continental level, a similar recognition led the African Union (AU) to adopt a policy on African space development in 2017. The AU declared that space science and technology is the key to advancing economic progress and natural resource management.

History spans more than 60 years

Ethiopia’s space history goes back to the unveiling in 1957 of its first 4-inch-wide optical telescope and the establishment of Addis Ababa Geophysical Observatory under the auspices of the science faculty of Addis Ababa University (AAU), then called the University College of Addis Ababa.

This was done in response to the call made at the 1957 convention on the International Geophysical Year in Rome for a geomagnetic observatory that is uniquely located beneath the Earth’s ionospheric equatorial electrojet.

In addition to providing data in support of international research, the telescope at AAU has been used for observing many celestial objects and events, including the solar eclipses in 1959 and 1961, and Halley’s Comet in 1986.

In 1965, with the support of the Ethiopian government, the American government established a deep-space communication centre at Kagnew Station that provided space surveillance and intelligence operations from 1965-75.

The site is in what is known today as Eritrea. During the same period, Ethiopia built its first satellite laser ranging tracking station at Debrezeit (Bishoftu).

Since then, very little appears to have been achieved in the field until the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS) was formed in 2004 with 47 founding members. The society was set up through the ardent efforts of people like Tefera Walwa, former deputy prime minister and a staunch advocate of space science. Initially, many people scoffed at the initiative and called the society ‘a crazy man’s club’.

Higher education part of initial efforts

At the start, the financial needs of ESSS were met through contributions from Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-’Amoudi, an Ethiopian-Saudi business tycoon, and other local institutions.

This initial effort rekindled national interest, triggering new developments in space science and technology. Today, the ESSS has more than 10,000 members, 19 branches and 100 space clubs. It involves higher education institutions, research centres, government agencies and professional societies in its various activities.

In 2003-4, ESSS helped to organise the creation of the Entoto Observatory and Research Centre through a consortium of 33 Ethiopian universities.

The observatory was established as a multipurpose facility to support and enhance Ethiopia’s capabilities and competencies in planetary and space sciences as well as in space technology, developing research infrastructure and qualified human resources, aligning the space programme with national development plans, and fostering international partnerships and collaborations.

Similarly, ESSS had significant involvement in the creation of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI) through Council of Ministers Regulation No. 393/2016. ESSTI is a federal institute for research, training and infrastructure development in space science set up to:

• Enable the country to fully exploit multidimensional uses of space science and technology;

• Produce demand-based knowledgeable, skilled, and attitudinally matured professionals in the field of aerospace science that enable the country to become internationally competitive in the sector;

• Develop, strengthen, and implement space science and technology infrastructure through research to speed up space science and technology development in the country; and

• Enable the country to be a robust contributor for the development of aerospace science and technology.

Through the same proclamation, the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Council was also created to provide strategic leadership, guidance, and support for the implementation of the national space science and technology programme, and that of ESSTI. The council is chaired by the prime minister.

Teaching and research possibilities enhanced

At the local level, ESSS’s closer link with AAU has greatly enhanced its operations. Among others, it has been possible to launch MSc and PhD programmes in astronomy and astrophysics, space science, remote sensing and geodesy.

The MSc programme in geodesy is planned for East Africa and will be offered in partnership with the AA Institute of Technology (Ethiopia), Ardhi University (Tanzania) and the University of Edinburgh (UK). This effort has been facilitated by AAU’s decision in 2005 to transform its Geophysical Observatory into the Institute of Geophysics, Space Science and Astronomy nearly 50 years after it was established.

ESSS’s international cooperation with relevant institutions in countries such as the United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea and the European Union is providing a lot of support to its research and training plans.

Wide commitment needed to trump challenges

Government recognition and interest in promoting space science and technology is a good indication of the political commitment in Ethiopia. However, Ethiopia is not exempt from the challenges faced by developing countries in this arena. Among others, lack of awareness of the benefits of space technologies appears to be a major hurdle.

In this regard, the ESSS periodically undertakes educational campaigns and outreach programmes such as stargazing nights, space events, public talks and lectures, experience-sharing programmes between schools, summer school training, workshops and teacher training.

However, more efforts are still needed to broaden the sphere of influence. A lack of financial resources for building facilities and payment for high-level training is another bottleneck the sector needs to surmount.

Although the space society in Ethiopia is developing joint projects with local institutions and other countries to offset this challenge, the funding issue of this expensive enterprise should be addressed through increased government commitment and the search for additional sources of income.

Another challenge is the availability of a critical mass of trained space scientists and engineers needed to fill the existing technology and skills gaps in developing, using and adapting space technologies. There are encouraging efforts from the space society in Ethiopia to address this gap but more needs to be done to promote current interest and activities in this area.

Key role of schools and universities

Ethiopia’s current initiatives in space science and technology are promising and suggest its potential to play a significant role in the region if the sector continues to receive the attention it appears to enjoy now. While the space society and related institutions should continue to play their role, particular mention should be made of the primary role schools and universities should play in spearheading efforts in this direction.

Developing capabilities in space science and technology is inconceivable without quality education in science and technology. Hence, concerted efforts should be made to develop interest, knowledge, understanding, and engagement in the fields of engineering, mathematics, and physics at all educational levels.

Current efforts and policy directions to promote science education, and particularly STEM education, across the education spectrum should support existing initiatives by establishing space science as a major focus area.

Ethiopia’s universities (particularly the science, technology and research universities) should follow the example of AAU and offer space science as an independent field of study, research and training.

Diverse mechanisms of sharing experiences, information, infrastructure, expertise, and financial resources should be encouraged among local, regional and international institutions. A similar role is expected from relevant stakeholders, ministries and the private sector to address constraints and help the nation benefit significantly from this promising sector.

Wondwosen Tamrat (PhD) is an associate professor and founding president of St Mary’s University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a collaborating scholar of the Programme for Research on Private Higher Education at the State University of New York at Albany, United States, and coordinator of the private higher education sub-cluster of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa. He may be reached at preswond@smuc.edu.et or wondwosen@gmail.com.