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Weather & Science

Africa Establishes a Space Agency to Close Its Climate Data Gap

The new organization will coordinate existing national space programs, launch satellites and set up weather stations.

The African Space Agency in Cairo on April 20.

Photographer: Ahmed Gomaa/Xinhua/Getty Images

Takeaways by Bloomberg AI

Africa has established the continent’s first space agency to boost Earth observation and data sharing at a time when a more hostile global context is limiting the availability of climate and weather information.

The African Space Agency opened its doors last month under the umbrella of the African Union and is headquartered in Cairo. The new organization, which is still being set up and hiring people in key positions, will coordinate existing national space programs. It aims to improve the continent’s space infrastructure by launching satellites, setting up weather stations and making sure data can be shared across Africa and beyond.