Space Security Index

2010 Development
Africa considers the establishment of an African Space Agency
In addition, the African states requested that the AU commission a feasibility study for the
establishment of the African Space Agency, taking into account existing initiatives, and to
develop an African Space Policy in cooperation with the Regional Economic Communities,
the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and the ITU. 117
e objectives of the Feasibility Study for the Creation of an African Space Agency include: 118
1. To highlight the current use of space applications in Africa and their impact on socioeconomic
development of the continent, including how they will contribute signicantly
to achieving the Millennium Development Goals;
2. To provide African policymakers with recommendations and a roadmap for the creation
of the African Space Agency, including the drafting of legal and institutional instruments.
During a high-level dialogue on Africa-EU partnership in space held at the headquarters
of the European Union Commission in Brussels on 17 September 2010, Jean-Pierre Ezin,
AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technologies stated that the AU
Commission is proposing to establish an African Space Agency “as a coordinated and
integrated singular pan-African platform” to champion a well-dened African strategic space
program.” 119
While it has been argued that a common space policy for Africa is long overdue, 120 some
Africans have reservations. Peter Martinez, coordinator of South Africa’s National Working
Group on Space Science and Technology, argued that the idea was premature, saying that “a
number of African countries should rst develop their own capabilities and these [countries]
could then take the lead in perhaps forming a continental space agency.” 121
Space Security Impact
The implementation of the South African space strategy can serve to spearhead the
continent’s space initiatives as it will entail the development of private sector space science
and technology companies, the development of an export market for South African satellites
and space services, and the development of products and services that can respond to the
needs of users. On the one hand, this objective will encourage more collaboration with
regional international partners. On the other, there may be a risk of unhealthy regional
competition in the space domain. This threat may be reduced with the establishment of the
African Space Agency, though it may be several years before it is created.
Trend 3.4: National space policies continue to focus on the security
uses of outer space, with increased concentration on
developing national space industries
Fueled in part by technological advances in military aairs, the national policies and military
doctrines of a number of states increasingly reect a growing reliance on space-based
applications to support military functions. Consequently, major space powers and several
emerging spacefaring nations increasingly view their space assets as an integral element of
their national security infrastructure.
Ensuring the security of vulnerable space assets remains a top priority of the U.S. military.
e 2003 U.S. Air Force Transformation Flight Plan called for onboard protection
capabilities for space assets, coupled with oensive counterspace systems to ensure space
Laws, Policies, and Doctrines
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