Agreement Signed with Shanghai Microsatellites to Launch 2nd Ethiopian Satellite

Addis Ababa November 26/2024 (ENA)- Ethiopia’s Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) and China Academy of Science-Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites (CAS-SECM) have signed a contract agreement to launch the second Ethiopian Remote Sensing Satellite (ETRSS-2).

SSGI Director General, Abdissa Yilma said that the second Ethiopian Remote Sensing Satellite (ETRSS-2) will be developed within 18 months and after being launched it will serve for 5 years.

The capability built with the two previously launched satellites, ETRSS-2 will certainly enhance Ethiopia’s big data analytic and utilize it to various sectors, he added.

According to the DG, the institute will set up crop, forest, and water monitoring and control center as well as flooding, landslide and natural disaster risk prevention center will provide upto date data to support decision-making and policy formulation.

Ethiopia is amongst the pioneer civilized nations in the world; Abdissa said and, added that space science is not a luxury rather an essential area that Ethiopia is thriving to advance in.

Scientific Research & Engineering Department Vice Director at Shanghai Microsatellites,  Xiaocheng Zhu said that Shanghai microsatellites have launched 38 satellites to the orbit over the last 20 years.

Shanghai microsatellites has made significant contribution to China’s aerospace industry, he said, and added that for Shanghai microsatellites, this cooperation is not only with Ethiopia but also with Africa.