Space Science and Astronomy Global

Position
in terms of Technology, Socio-economics

By 1. Bikila Teshome (MSc.in Astrophysics)

2. Abdissa Tesema (MSc.in Astrophysics)
3. Jifar Raya (MSc.in Astrophysics)

February, 2021
Jimma, Ethipia
 Outlines of Presentation

 Introduction
 Astronomy
 Space Science
 How Space Exploration Delivers Benefits
 Advances in Science and Technology
 G20 Voices on the Future of the Space Economy
 Key Themes from the Space 20 Meeting
 African Space Strategy
 Introduction

Space Science and Astronomy

Astronomy:
 It is a science that reaches from planets to stars, and the

universe as a whole.

 It embraces all of physics in an endeavour to

understand the origin and evolution of the universe and

its constituents.
 Introduction

• Solar sy

Fig.1 Solar system planets

 Cont.…

Fig.2 Names of the planets –Universe today

 Cont.…

 Increasing public interest in astronomy and

improving scientific education help to develop a
more skilled workforce.

 These skills, both conceptual and practical, are

easily transferred to applied fields such as
meteorology, computer science and information
technology.
 Cont.…

Space Science:
 For more than fifty years, humans have explored space,

and this has produced a continuing flow of societal

benefits.

 Space exploration initiated the economic development

of space that today, year after year, delivers high

returns for invested funds in space.

Cont.…
 Cont.…

 From the early days of space flight, it became apparent that

space exploration was an efficient driver for basic science and

technology.

 Space science and astronomy therefore provide basic knowledge

that has practical use in daily location-based applications.

 Space applications have the potential to provide significant

contributions to society’s responses to 21st century challenges,

such as environmental monitoring, management of natural

resources, security and safety.

 Cont.…

Fig.3 Earth Observation-Space-Airbus

 Cont.…

Fig.4 NASA’s Earth Science Satellite Fleet

 Defining the space economy

 Space technologies are becoming an increasingly

important part of everyday life. Weather forecasting,
air traffic control, global communications and
broadcasting – these and many other essential activities
would be almost unthinkable today without satellite
technology.
 Cont.…

 Although an increasing number of countries are

developing space systems and applications,
internationally agreed definitions for statistical
terminology on space activities do not yet exist.
 How Space Exploration Delivers Benefits

 The benefits of space can be categorized as either direct

or indirect.
• The direct benefits includes:
 The generation of scientific knowledge
 The diffusion of innovation and creation of markets
 The inspiration of people around the world, and
 Agreements forged between the countries engaged in

exploration.
 Cont.…

• Indirect benefits that result over time include tangible

enhancements to the quality of life such as:
 Improved economic prosperity
 Health
 Environmental quality
 Safety, and
 Security
 Advances in Science and Technology

 Overcoming the challenges of working in space has led to

many technological and scientific advances that have

provided benefits to society on Earth in areas including:

-Health and medicine -Energy and environment

-Transportation -Information technology, and

-Public safety -Industrial productivity

-Consumer goods
 G20 Voices on the Future of the Space Economy

 For the first time in G20 history, space has been selected as one
of the 22 priorities of the G20 2020 agenda, titled “Promoting
Space Cooperation” under the goal “Shaping New Frontiers”.
 The first Space Economy Leaders meeting- Space 20 was held
virtually on 7 October 2020.
 It was a high-profile meeting organized by the Saudi Space
Commission (SSC).
 Cont.…

 The meeting was initiated to increase awareness of the space

economy, shape new frontiers in the global economy, and to
contribute to the international efforts on the peaceful uses of
space while maximizing its economic benefits.
 The meeting brought together the heads of space agencies from
the G20 countries as the leaders of the space economy
ecosystem.
 Cont.…

 It is expected that the G20 countries will

continue to host the space 20 meeting as part of
the ongoing G20 agendas in the coming years.
 Key Themes from the Space 20 Meeting

 International collaboration and knowledge sharing are

fundamental to space advancement.
 Space is an enabler of green economies and achieving our
sustainable development goals on Earth
 We need to protect the space domain to ensure longevity
of our presence there
 Cont.…

 Innovations in the space sector are improving productivity in

traditional industries: including resources, medicine,

agriculture, autonomous vehicles,

communications and mobiles services.

 Entrepreneurship and technical expertise are still essential in
the exponential growth of the sector
 Cont.…

 New nations and markets are becoming spacefaring and

benefiting
 Space is important to many nation’s recovery from Covid-19
and its economic impact: space infrastructure has played a key
role in disaster management globally, enabling new ways to
collect data, assess damages and efficiently communicate in
times of emergency.
 Cont.…

 Connectivity is being enabled through space and has been

particularly prominent during the pandemic
 Space is helping develop the workforce of the future and
inspiring how we connect and engage
 African Space Strategy

 Africa is facing serious challenges in ensuring adequate provision

of basic necessities, such as food, shelter, a clean and healthy

environment, and proper education, for its growing population.

 Economic, political, environmental and social reforms can make

an impact only if there is concerted effort to build indigenous

skills and technological capabilities that provide effective

solutions to the challenges.

 Cont.…

 Africa is slowly awakening to the benefits that space

science and technology provides in addressing these
challenges.
 Space applications are needed to achieve over 90% of
the strategic objectives across the eight departments
of the African Union Commission (AUC).
 Cont.…

 Africa represents 20% of the Earth’s land surface area,

more than the USA, India, China and Europe put
together, yet these countries/region invested more than
$50 billion on space activities in 2013, while Africa
injected only under $100 million (translating to less
than 0.2% of the global space budget) in the same
period.
 Cont.…

• In terms of performance in the space sector, only one

country on the African continent, namely South Africa,
ranked in the top thirty countries globally in 2013 –
ranking 23rd in terms of its space budget ($41 million)
and 30th in terms of scientific production in satellite
technology (accounting for 0.87% of global publications
in the domain).
 Cont.…

 The Strategy hinges on the African Space Policy,

which provides a guiding framework, for both the
African public and private sectors, on the underlying
principles to be adopted enroute to a formal African
space programme.
 Cont.…

 The Strategy focuses on these domains:

 Earth Observation- Gathering of the earth’s physical,

chemical and biological information to improve
management of resources
 Satellite Communication-Relaying, amplifying and
broadcasting voice and video signals from a transmitter
to a receiver at different locations on Earth
 Cont.…

 Navigation and Positioning-Applicable in many areas

such as the global air traffic management system
 Space Science and Astronomy- Study to understand
the origin and evolution of the dynamic universe and
its constituents.
 Sources

 International Space Exploration Coordination Group

(ISECG) September, 2013)
 Space 20/Space Economy Leaders Meeting 7 October
2020, Saudi Arabia
 2019 African Union Commission