Egypt, China and the Space Race
Dr. Shaul Shay
| 19/08/2018
On August 13, Egypt and China signed mutual letters for the implementation of a satellite named "EgyptSat-A," according to an official statement by the Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation. The Chinese grant hits $US 45 million for the remote sensing Earth observation satellite built by the Russian RSC Energia.
The agreement was signed by Sahar Nasr, Egypt's minister of investment and international cooperation, and the Chinese ambassador to Egypt, Song Aiguo.
Minister Nasr said that "developing the new satellite EgyptSat-A for the applications of remote sensing" aims to benefit from Chinese technology and experience and help further Egypt’s progress on establishing the Egyptian Space Agency to make Egypt a regional and international center for science and innovation.
Ambassador Aiguo said following the inking of the deal that the upcoming period will witness a development in Chinese investments in Egypt, and that he’s excited to share China’s experience and knowledge in manufacturing and operating satellites.
The previous Egyptian satellite EgyptSat-2 was launched in April 2014, and it was lost in 2015. The satellite was taking pictures of the planet in the visible and infrared spectrum with panchromatic and multispectral modes.
According to Russian press reports, EgyptSat-A will have improved performance capabilities compared to the failed EgyptSat-2. In particular, the replacement satellite will feature an improved electro-optical system and onboard control systems, high-speed radio links, and solar panels with increased efficiency.
RSC Energia will produce the vast majority of components for EgyptSat-A, compared to Egyptsat-2 where 60 percent of the components were manufactured in Egypt.
Egypt and Russia intended to launch the new Egyptian satellite by 2019, from a Russian space base in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
Egypt's Space Agency
Egypt’s House of Representatives approved in December 2017 a law to establish Egypt's Space Agency. The law aims to push Egypt forward in the vital area of space and satellite technology in a way that should serve the country's national security and development objectives.
The law is based on a 25-page report prepared by parliament's committees on education and scientific research, telecommunications and information technology, defense and national security, the budget, and legislative and constitutional affairs.
The Egyptian Space Agency (ESA) will be a Cairo-based public organization that will have branches in different parts of Egypt.
The agency will be affiliated with the president of the republic, having the financial, administrative and technical independence to be able to do its job in a professional way.
The agency will be mainly responsible for drawing up a national space technology program within the next few years. It will be primarily focused on launching self-made satellites that should serve the development and national security objectives.
Egyptian Space Agency will be set up on Cairo-Suez Road (in Egypt’s space and satellite city). Egypt hopes that in seven years Egypt’s space and satellite technology city will contribute at least 10 percent to the national income.
In January 2018, Egypt's president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ratified a law establishing the country's first Egyptian space agency, aiming to develop and transfer space science and technology into Egypt.
Summary
Egypt has decided to join the world’s space club, and the decisions to form Egypt's Space Agency and to build EgyptSat-A are significant steps to achieve this strategic goal.
The EgyptSat-A satellite aims to support Egypt's "presence in space," to establish the presence of Egyptian scientists and researchers in outer space and to increase new investment opportunities and enhance developmental projects.
Egypt currently owns two communication satellites, NileSat 1 and NileSat 2. Egypt highlighted the civilian aspects of the satellite, but the EgyptSat-2 satellite was designed to provide high-resolution imagery for the Egyptian military and other government agencies in the country.
The decision to stick with a Russian manufacturer and China for the Egyptian remote sensing satellite might be more about Egyptian geopolitics than just the need for a reliable satellite imaging system.
[Sources: Nile TV, Ahram Online (1,2), Egypt Today]
On August 13, Egypt and China signed mutual letters for the implementation of a satellite named "EgyptSat-A," according to an official statement by the Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation. The Chinese grant hits $US 45 million for the remote sensing Earth observation satellite built by the Russian RSC Energia.
The agreement was signed by Sahar Nasr, Egypt's minister of investment and international cooperation, and the Chinese ambassador to Egypt, Song Aiguo.
Minister Nasr said that "developing the new satellite EgyptSat-A for the applications of remote sensing" aims to benefit from Chinese technology and experience and help further Egypt’s progress on establishing the Egyptian Space Agency to make Egypt a regional and international center for science and innovation.
Ambassador Aiguo said following the inking of the deal that the upcoming period will witness a development in Chinese investments in Egypt, and that he’s excited to share China’s experience and knowledge in manufacturing and operating satellites.
The previous Egyptian satellite EgyptSat-2 was launched in April 2014, and it was lost in 2015. The satellite was taking pictures of the planet in the visible and infrared spectrum with panchromatic and multispectral modes.
According to Russian press reports, EgyptSat-A will have improved performance capabilities compared to the failed EgyptSat-2. In particular, the replacement satellite will feature an improved electro-optical system and onboard control systems, high-speed radio links, and solar panels with increased efficiency.
RSC Energia will produce the vast majority of components for EgyptSat-A, compared to Egyptsat-2 where 60 percent of the components were manufactured in Egypt.
Egypt and Russia intended to launch the new Egyptian satellite by 2019, from a Russian space base in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
Egypt's Space Agency
Egypt’s House of Representatives approved in December 2017 a law to establish Egypt's Space Agency. The law aims to push Egypt forward in the vital area of space and satellite technology in a way that should serve the country's national security and development objectives.
The law is based on a 25-page report prepared by parliament's committees on education and scientific research, telecommunications and information technology, defense and national security, the budget, and legislative and constitutional affairs.
The Egyptian Space Agency (ESA) will be a Cairo-based public organization that will have branches in different parts of Egypt.
The agency will be affiliated with the president of the republic, having the financial, administrative and technical independence to be able to do its job in a professional way.
The agency will be mainly responsible for drawing up a national space technology program within the next few years. It will be primarily focused on launching self-made satellites that should serve the development and national security objectives.
Egyptian Space Agency will be set up on Cairo-Suez Road (in Egypt’s space and satellite city). Egypt hopes that in seven years Egypt’s space and satellite technology city will contribute at least 10 percent to the national income.
In January 2018, Egypt's president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ratified a law establishing the country's first Egyptian space agency, aiming to develop and transfer space science and technology into Egypt.
Summary
Egypt has decided to join the world’s space club, and the decisions to form Egypt's Space Agency and to build EgyptSat-A are significant steps to achieve this strategic goal.
The EgyptSat-A satellite aims to support Egypt's "presence in space," to establish the presence of Egyptian scientists and researchers in outer space and to increase new investment opportunities and enhance developmental projects.
Egypt currently owns two communication satellites, NileSat 1 and NileSat 2. Egypt highlighted the civilian aspects of the satellite, but the EgyptSat-2 satellite was designed to provide high-resolution imagery for the Egyptian military and other government agencies in the country.
The decision to stick with a Russian manufacturer and China for the Egyptian remote sensing satellite might be more about Egyptian geopolitics than just the need for a reliable satellite imaging system.
[Sources: Nile TV, Ahram Online (1,2), Egypt Today]
