AAC Clyde Space, which describes itself as a leading ‘New Space’ company, has founded AAC Space Africa, an entity which, it says, will capitalize on the rapidly growing market for satellites and space services in Africa.
AAC Space Africa will design, build, and deliver space missions to the continent from its Cape Town base in South Africa's Western Cape Province. The new subsidiary will also be the group's centre of competence for advanced radio communication.
The management team brings more than 40 years of small satellite experience to the company, having pioneered the African CubeSat industry through several missions, including the first CubeSat launched by the continent.
The team will initially focus on radio communication systems as well as sales and marketing. The team is expected to grow quickly in the coming year to meet demand from the African space economy, which, according to some experts, is set to grow to $10 billion by 2024.
"We see great potential for small satellites to provide timely, accurate and targeted data for sectors such as weather forecasting, ocean monitoring, agricultural planning, and land management. The ability to provide data from space and monitor key issues across the continent will help Africa develop at a far more rapid pace over the next decade,” said AAC Clyde Space CEO Luis Gomes.
AAC Clyde Space has previously been active in the African market through its European companies' hubs, most recently by supporting Mauritius in its efforts to become a space nation and to track ocean currents with earth observation technologies.
AAC Clyde Space specialises in advanced nanosatellite spacecraft, mission services, and reliable subsystems, providing ‘New Space’ solutions and services for government, commercial, and educational organisations.