Space programme of Kenya
The space programme of Kenya has been largely shaped by that country's position on the equator and has basis of existed foreign infrastructure and experience. The development of the programme started in May 2012.
Conditions
As one of only a handful of equatorial states, Kenya is ideally sited for a spaceport to efficiently launch satellites into geostationary and other orbits.
The closest regional facility, and the only one ever active in East Africa, is the Italian-owned Broglio Space Centre (more known as San Marco) near the Kenya's coast. In 1962 the agreements between Italy and Kenya and between University of Rome La Sapienza and Royal Technical College (now University of Nairobi) were signed and prolonged later for using of Kenyan territorial waters and building of base camp for two main sea platforms of spaceport on Kenyan territory near Ngomeni and Ungwana Bay. Later for servicing of San Marco spaceport among other needs, a tracking station in the nearest Kenyan city of Malindi was created (and still operates) by Italy and ESA.
After end of operation of San Marco/Broglio space centre by Italians, The Kenyan government attempted to found a mostly commercial national space programme based on retake of this spaceport and use of Malindi station but the idea caused economic and diplomatic troubles between Kenya and Italy and the idea was discarded.
Developments
In building a launchpad for modern rockets to be able to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, Kenya intends to involve other partners such as the Ukraine that already produce launch vehicles for sea-platform Sea Launch spaceports. The Kenyan government offered the Ukraine the right to develop the spaceport for launch of its own rockets and the facilities for assembly of satellites.
See also
References
External links
- Kenya is interested in the launch of the Ukrainian launch vehicles
- Kenya in Encyclopedia Astronautica
- Malindi station
- House to probe 1962 agreement on space station
- Kenya: House Committee to Investigate Malindi Space Centre
- Diplomatic row between Kenyan government and its counterpart Italian government over San Marco space center