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Egypt Plans to Launch First Satellite to Monitor Climate Changes in Africa

The Space Committee of the Egyptian Syndicate of Engineers are indeed Egyptian plans to launch two satellites in Africa — one
unveiled during a conference Egypt’s plan to launch the first satellite of which is specialized in monitoring climate changes and whose
specialized in monitoring climate changes in African countries, in launch date has yet to be set. Farag said that negotiations are
partnership with Chinese parties. The announcement comes in the underway with a Chinese party, which he did not specify, to take
lead-up to the UN climate conference (COP27) scheduled to be part in the launch process along with the Academy of Scientific
held in Sharm el-Sheikh Nov. 6-18, in what constitutes an important Research and Technology. The details, according to the source,
step to confront climate challenges, especially in countries most are to be announced upon completion of the negotiations. Also,
vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change. Speaking at the the source added, another satellite is to be launched in 2023
Oct. 22 conference, Ahmed Farag, head of the Space Committee of with the aim of measuring the proportion of plasma in the upper
the Syndicate of Engineers, said that a prototype of the satellite atmosphere. The source also said that the COP27 hosted by
will be displayed in Sharm el-Sheikh in conjunction with the UN Egypt for the first time is a good opportunity for the country to put
climate conference sessions in order to explain the role and goals forth the efforts it is deploying to confront the negative effects
of this satellite. Farag added that the launch of the satellite aims of climate change on the African continent, by adopting all sorts
to monitor climate changes in Africa, such as the phenomena of of modern technological means in order to win the confidence of
desertification, the increase in carbon emissions, water vapor and international institutions in a bid to provide the necessary funding
wind speed, and this is very important and useful for Cairo and all to support these efforts and achieve the desired goals. Osama
countries of the African continent to support them in facing the Shelbaya, dean of the Faculty of Navigation Sciences and Space
negative effects of climate change. He said that several workshops Technology at Beni Suef University, told Al-Monitor that Egypt’s
and educational seminars were held in partnership with a number plan to launch a satellite to monitor climate changes in Africa is
of specialized experts to activate the syndicate’s Space Committee, important to confront climate-related challenges and the resulting
which was established in August. The seminars also aimed to phenomena by monitoring them before they occur and developing
emphasize the role of educational and research institutions in plans to deal with them, to avoid or limit any damages or negative
space science and tackled the close relationship between space effects. He added that launching satellites is very costly, which
and the climate. A source from within the governmental Egyptian prompted Egypt to resort to Chinese parties within the framework
Space Agency told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that there of Egyptian efforts to confront climate change, which will culminate
with the hosting of the COP27. Sami Hashem, head of the Egyptian
parliament’s Education and Scientific Research Committee,
concurred, as he told Al-Monitor that Egypt’s plan to launch the first
satellite to monitor climate changes in Africa is unprecedented,
and it serves as evidence of the state’s use of all modern scientific
and technological means to limit the harmful effects of climate
changes on both Egypt and Africa. African countries, he said, are
the most affected and exposed to desertification, water shortage,
beach erosion and drought, among other effects. Hashem added
that the launch of the satellite is beneficial not only for Egypt, but
for all African countries, and it will have a vital and effective role in
facing climate challenges, so focus should be on it at the COP27.

Starlink Files for Indian Satellite License

Starlink, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite broadband provider that Starlink will also need authorization from the Department of
backed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX venture, has reportedly applied to Space and spectrum rights before it can begin offering services.
the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for a global mobile The application makes Starlink the third company to file for a
personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) license, the satellite broadband permit from the DoT, with Airtel’s OneWeb and
Economic Times writes, citing unnamed officials. The concession Jio Satellite Communications having already begun the licensing
would be the first step towards launching commercial satellite process.
broadband services in India, but DoT officials were cited as adding

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