A Nigerian thermal subsystem engineer testing a Nigerian satellite before launching. 

The first attempt by an African to land on the moon was made in 1964 by a Zambian high school teacher Edward Mukuka Nkoloso, who attempted to outdo America and the Soviet Union in the race to land on the moon. Although he did not succeed, his ambitious idea gave rise to the numerous space programs that Africa boasts today.

1994年一个赞比亚高中老师尝试了登上月亮，这样他会超越美国和前苏联作为世界第一个登上月亮的人。虽然他的挑战失败但是他的想法让更多的非洲国家发展它们的太空计划。

A South African astronaut in space. 

South Africa 🇿🇦 南非

Since 2010, South Africa has had its own space agency called the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), whose mandate is to utilize data acquired from local and international satellites to avert natural disasters like droughts and perform scientific explorations. In fact, South Africa has the largest and most active space technology on the continent.

The program is funded by both government and private entities and uses several satellites to remotely sense potential disasters such as droughts and floods, as well as carrying out environmental studies. South Africa is the first African country to have real astronauts.

从2010年，南非拥有了自己的航天局叫SANSA，SANSA主要是利用从当地和国际卫星获得的数据防止自燃灾害。南非是非洲国家航天技术最高级的。

SANSA有政府和私人公司提供基金。主要的目的是利用几个卫星检测干旱，水灾和其他的自然灾害 ，也用来研究环境。南非是非洲第一个国家拥有宇航员。

An astronaut disembarks from a spacecraft. 

Nigeria 🇳🇬 尼日利亚

On top of being the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria has a highly advanced space program operated by its own space agency, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA), which was established in 2001. The West African nation has so far launched five self-made satellites that are used for various tasks, including performing environmental and scientific studies in the larger Niger delta.

Nigeria’s first telecommunications satellite known as NigComSat-13 was launched in May 2007 and was designed to offer phone, television and internet coverage across West Africa, but it was later shut down due to lack of substantial solar power. Its replacement, NigComSat-1R was launched in December 2011 and utilizes a DFH-4-band to bring telecommunication services to the larger West Africa.

除了作为非洲经济第一以外，尼日利亚的航天局（NSRDA）在2001年建立的也很厉害，已经成功发射5个自制的卫星，这些有很多用包括研究和学习环境，在大尼日尔三角洲的科学研究。

尼日利亚第一个卫星NigComSat-13是在2007年发射的，目的是在西非提供通信业务，但是因为没有足够的太阳能就被遗弃了。NigComSat-1R是替代NigComSat-13的，在2011十二月发射的，他用DFH-4频率提供大西非的通信业务。

Ghanaian college students who created the country’s first space satellite. 

Ghana 🇬🇭 加纳

The Ghanaian space program was established five years ago.The program is a representation of the country’s big ambitions.

It is operated by the Ghana Space Science and Technology Center (GSSTC), whose main tasks is to coordinate research across the West African country in key areas such as satellite communications and remote sensing. Ghana plans to launch its first satellite in 2018.

加纳航天局是在5年前建立地。是这个国家大欲望的代表。

有GSSTC经营的，它主要的目的是研究西非国家的关键领域，比如卫星通信。加纳计划在2018年发射它的第一个卫星。

Algerian students learning Astronaut skills in Alabama, U.S. 

Algeria 🇩🇿 阿尔及利亚

Established in 2002, the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) helps the government to come up with space strategies, including the use of the country’s four satellites in the facilitation of scientific research and telecommunication.

The North African country hopes to use its space technology to improve its social and economic development. Recently, ASAL signed treaties with various space agencies from international partners such as France, Ukraine, Argentina, Russia, China and the United Kingdom.

在2002年建的，ASAL阿尔及利亚航天局给政府提供航天策略，包括该国的四个卫星用来做科学研究和通信项目。这个北非的国家还希望利用它的航天技术提高社会和经济发展。不久，ASAL跟其它国家的航天局签了条约，这些有法国，乌克兰，阿根廷，俄罗斯，中国和英国。

Egyptian astronaut. 

Egypt 埃及

In an attempt to take its space ambitions a notch higher, Egypt recently partnered with neighboring Sudan to launch several space programs as it endeavors to build an overall African space agency.

Egypt has four satellites, the first of which was launched in 1998. These satellites are used for ground analysis, mainly for agricultural purposes in the Nile region. They observe the country’s mainland and coastal line by taking high resolution pictures of the land for environmental, scientific and security purposes.

Despite its meager resources in the technology sector, Africa appears to have a budding appetite for advanced space technology, with experts now advising that a concerted effort among African countries could help the continent realize its ultimate goal of an African space program.

为了提高它的航天计划，埃及最近跟它的邻居苏丹合作起来了。埃及有四个卫星，第一个是在1998年发射的。这四个卫星都是用来地面分析，主要是尼罗河地区的农业项目。它们以拍地面的高清图片观察大陆和海岸线，这会帮助研究环境，科学和安全。

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