Space may seem far away, but its benefits are already here on Earth.
A farmer checking the weather before planting, a fisherman looking for safer waters, or a community preparing for a flood may all be benefiting from information gathered from space.
Africa’s space ambitions are therefore not just about rockets, astronauts or putting satellites into orbit. They are about using space technology to solve everyday problems and make life better for millions of Africans.
For farmers, satellites can help predict rainfall and track drought. This can give farmers more time to decide when to plant, what crops to grow and how to prepare for a bad season.
Satellites can also help governments and communities prepare for floods and storms. In East Africa, satellite technology has been used to track locust outbreaks and monitor drought. This gives governments more time to act before the situation becomes worse.
In countries such as Ghana and Nigeria, satellite images are also being used to understand how land and cities are changing. This can help with land registration, city planning and resolving disputes over land.
Then there is internet access.
Satellite internet is beginning to reach some rural areas where mobile networks and fibre connections have not reached. For people in these communities, this could mean better access to online learning, banking, healthcare and other services.
So, Africa’s space programme is not only about rockets, astronauts or countries putting flags in space.
It is also about everyday life on the ground.
A satellite can help a farmer know when rain is coming. It can help a community receive an early warning before a flood. It can help a doctor in a rural clinic speak to a specialist far away.
These are real benefits.
That is why Africa’s space ambitions should matter to ordinary people.
The conversation should not only be about how many satellites Africa can launch. It should also be about what those satellites can do for African people.
This is where ACALAN Publications can play an important role: explaining space technology in African languages and everyday language so that a farmer, trader, student or young person can understand one simple question:
“What does this satellite do for me?”