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Abstract

Space… Does space really matter? As more and more turn towards a space sector economy to aid them in developing their countries, to improve economic growth and the quality of life from telecommunications and broadcasting to satellites for climate change, agriculture, conserving natural resources to urban planning and anticipating natural disasters, we in Africa should be asking: How can we benefit? Of what potential impact and value would developing a space sector economy be? How has it assisted us so far? This paper therefore advocates, that the future of emerging African nations is not constrained to the stereotypical, outdated economic model of the past but through the myriad economic opportunities through trade, employment, expenditure, economic activity, investment and other chances offered by satellites, space research, technology, projects such as MeerKAT, SALT, the VBLI and the SKA, that if we are to ensure the economic sovereignty of our nations and continent, if we are ever to benefit from space research and technology, that the future lies in developing a space sector economy in Africa. It provides an overview history of existing African space accomplishments, the purpose and value of the African space economy, space agencies and facilities, their research and technology. It seeks to further pinpoint a methodology capable of assessing the economic impact of space through existing space agency efforts primarily for South Africa as the main African space economy participant but also for countries such as Algeria, Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Ghana, Kenya and others, to inspire Africans to invest and believe that we too can benefit from space, as a historically neglected area of research. It aspires to a partial cost-benefit analysis to ultimately determine the future prospects and impact of developing this space sector economy in Africa.

Item Type:	Report (Working Paper)
Authors/Creators:	Dyer, JA
Keywords:	African space exploration, economic impact of space in Africa, Africa development
Publisher:	Private South African space commercial company
Copyright Holders:	Jack Dyer
Copyright Information:	Copyright the author. The identity of the South African commercial space company is preserved for confidentiality purposes
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