EgSA aims to enhance space innovation across 32 engineering and science colleges in Egypt through the educational satellite.
Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, has celebrated the first production of the educational satellites (Space Keys) by the Egyptian Space Agency.
The Space Keys is an important project to enhance space innovation across 32 engineering and science colleges across Egypt. In addition, the project receives support and funding from EgSA and the Egyptian Academy of Science and Technology. Furthermore, space innovation laboratories will be opened at each faculty of engineering at Ain Shams University, Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport and Helwan University.
The event was attended by top officials from several Egyptian organisations, including the CEO of EgSA, Dr Muhammed Al Qousi, and Dr Mohamed Ibrahimamong others.
Dr Khaled Abdul Ghaffar said: “The initiative falls within the framework of the joint space programme between the EgSA and Egyptian universities, to consolidate space technology in different universities, leading to a progressive plan for sustainable development by 2030. To this end, it is necessary to implement projects and create affiliations with different parties to ensure that the goal is met. In addition, he discussed that the space key project is an avenue to create synergies between the government and universities and to raise the level of awareness of students towards space technology.”
Dr Khaled also pointed out that the Egyptian space programme introduced by the government aims to build human and scientific capabilities, help in infrastructure and industrial development, build space missions systems, engage in outer space exploration, and foster cooperation with foreign space agencies. To date, Egypt has entered cooperation agreements with numerous countries and organisations with exceptional experience in several space fields. Furthermore, Egypt has partnered with several universities and research institutes that aligns with the objectives of the National Space Programme and the development of the right human resources in different space fields.
Dr Al Qousi, CEO of EgSA, commented that the Space Keys is an educational satellite developed by the Egyptian Space Agency to guide the operation of space innovation in colleges of engineering and science in various Egyptian universities. In addition, he explained that the AfDev satellite project would also be introduced to five African countries that have joined the agency (Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Sudan) to implement the African development satellite project to measure and monitor climate change.
Furthermore, Dr Mohamed Ibrahim, head of the implementation and satellite testing sector, and project manager, stated that the Space Keys initiative would address many challenges within the National Space Programme, including capacity building and strengthening international relations to ensure that Egypt becomes a regional centre of science and technology for Africa. He also explained that the educational satellite aims to activate the countrys space programme to ensure that the youths pick up the mantle of leveraging space technologies for sustainable development. He also noted that the Space Keys is an educational satellite developed by the Egyptian Space Agency to guide the space innovation workshop in the colleges of engineering and science at different Egyptian universities in collaboration with the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology.
