As the world ’s pathetic and least developed continent , it may come as no surprise that very few African body politic own outer space programs . But what may storm you is that one of its inadequate yet most populous countries , Ethiopia , has managed to successfully launch one , a first for East Africa .
Sat on top of the tower Mount Entoto , near the capital letter Addis Ababa , the center so far comprise of two telescopes shelter within with child dome structures . swap on a few calendar month ago , the observatory came with a $ 3 million price tatter . Modest for blank space research that may be , but not for a poorness - stricken , resource - pitiful country ravaged by famine that spends , on fair , about$25per individual on wellness services yearly . And for a country get substantial help in the form of assistance , such as from the UK ’s Department for International Development , at first coup d’oeil the endeavor may seem a colossal wastefulness of money .
Certainly , members of the Ethiopian Space Science Society ( ESSS ) have had a toilsome time sway the minds of officials that the skies are a worthy investiture . But for the ESSS , it ’s about substantially more than just a thirstiness for knowledge , and by no mean value is this an attempt to join the space race .
“ skill is part of any development cycle . Without science and engineering , nothing can be achieved , ” said ESSS communications manager Abinet Ezra , allot toAFP - JIJI.“Our main antecedency is to inspire the young generation to be involved in science and engineering science . ”
While the body politic may be on the receiving close of much - needed fiscal help , that is not to say this is a frivolous investment . In fact , the ESSS was really funded by Ethiopian - Saudi-Arabian enterpriser Mohammed Alamoudi with the goal of progress “ a society with a highly developed scientific culture that enable Ethiopia to harvest the welfare accruing from space science and technology . ”
Still , there are many who believe the money would be well pass elsewhere , for object lesson on food , health care and infrastructure . But there are prompt benefits to the center . The equipment negate the need for university students reading astrophysics to travel abroad for study , which is expensive . And at long last , now that the program has back from the relevant authorities , it is trust that further on down the transmission line a satellite will be launched with the purpose of improving communications and monitoring plowland , both of which would assist development .
“ Being poor is not a boundary to start this program,”saidSolomon Belay , director of the center and professor of astrophysics . “ Engineering and science are important to transform our farming into industry . ”
