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Egypt gets China-funded satellites in step towards space industry ambitions
- Nation has taken delivery of two MisrSat-2 prototypes which will be assembled and tested at a new centre
- Key African states are ‘racing’ to become leaders in the field while other nations vie for contracts, analyst says
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With the help of China, Egypt now has the capacity to assemble, integrate and test satellites, as the North African nation seeks to position itself as the continent’s space industry powerhouse.
Egypt took delivery of two China-funded prototypes for the MisrSat-2 satellite project on June 25.
The satellites will be assembled and tested at a centre, also financed by China, at the Egyptian Space Agency near the country’s new capital city. China provided a US$74 million grant for the project, as well as US$68 million for the satellite assembly, integration and test centre to be built.
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Over the past three months, engineers from Egypt and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation have been conducting tests on three MisrSat-2 satellite models – two prototypes and a flight model.
Chinese ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said Egypt would be the first African nation that could assemble, integrate and test satellites.
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