Two satellite dishes pointing towards the sky, symbolizing advanced communication technology.
African countries are rapidly expanding their presence in space, using increasingly affordable satellite technology to address practical challenges on Earth. Nearly 20 of the continent’s nations now have satellites in orbit, part of a wave of investment that is expected to almost double the continent’s collective space spending from two years ago. The expansion is being driven by the practical uses of satellites, including monitoring crops, livestock, minerals, weather, water levels, and communications. Access to such data can help government officials improve planning and disaster response. Thanks to nanosatellites, African countries are locally developing the expertise needed to advance their space ambitions. Senegal illustrates the trend, having launched its first satellite two years ago. The West African country is currently building its second satellite and plans to eventually have a constellation of between six and 12 satellites.