Egyptian Space Agency

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EgSA
Egyptian Space Agency
وكالة الفضاء المصرية
AbbreviationEgSA
Formation17 January 2018
TypeSpace agency
HeadquartersNew Cairo
Location
Coordinates30°02′59″N 31°36′26″E / 30.049799°N 31.607099°E / 30.049799; 31.607099
Chief Executive Director
Prof. Dr. Sherif Sedky
Budget (2021)
£65 million EGP
[1]

The Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) is an Egyptian space program founded on 17 January 2018,[2] succeeding the National Authority for Remote Sensing & Space Sciences (NARSS)[3] as the premier space authority in Egypt. The EgSA headquarters are housed in the Egyptian Space City, which also houses the African Space Agency (AfSA) headquarters, after Egypt won a bid to the African Union for its hosting in 2019.[4][report 1][5][6] The EgSA operates under the scope of the Egyptian Government and sees many of its executive decisions made at a presidential level. EgSA is currently responsible for satellite launches and monitoring, as well providing a platform for affiliated STEM fields to further develop in Egypt.[7] The EgSA and its predecessor have administered 10 satellites as of 2022, with the most recent being NILESAT-301 and HORUS-1.[8][9]

History[edit]

Establishment of EgSA[edit]

After drafting a law facilitating the founding of an Egyptian Space Agency, the Egyptian Council of Ministers had deferred the action to the Parliament of Egypt,[10] which soon approved the law on 14 November 2017,[11] and finally it was ratified by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi as Law no.3 of 2018,[2] officially establishing EgSA on 17 January 2018.[12] To house this agency, a 5,000 square meter "space city" is being constructed consisting of twenty-three buildings,[5] located in-between the fifth settlement of New Cairo and the country's New Administrative Capital (NAC). The EgSA has already begun operations in the space city, though it likely will not be fully operational for years[5].

Management[edit]

The Egyptian Space Agency is (at a basic level) headed by a Chief Executive Director,[5] the current head is Prof. Dr. Sherif Sedky (19 August 2022–present),[13] who was preceded by Prof. Dr. Mohamed El-Qousi (January 2018-August 2022),[14] the first to hold the position. All two of the Chief Executive Directors of the EgSA have been selected through Presidential Decree.[13][14] The EgSA is altogether headed by a Board of Directors established by presidential decree in 2019, members of which include the Chief Executive Director of EgSA, the prime minister of Egypt, the minister of higher education, the minister of communications and information technology, and several representatives from multiple other ministries.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mohamed Saied (20 October 2020). "Egypt considers space program". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Sisi passes law establishing Egyptian Space Agency". Egypt Independent. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  3. ^ Africa, Space in (20 November 2019). "National Authority For Remote Sensing & Space Sciences Upgraded To Egypt Space Agency". Space in Africa. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Egypt wins bid to host African Space Agency". EgyptToday. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  5. ^ a b c d "President El-Sisi relies on space technology to boost Egypt's economy". Atalayar. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  6. ^ Faleti, Joshua (30 January 2023). "African Space Agency Formally Inaugurated". SpaceWatch.Global. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  7. ^ Federation, International Astronautical. "IAF : Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA)". www.iafastro.org. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  8. ^ "List of satellites and space agencies in North Africa". SPACEHUBS AFRICA. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  9. ^ "Egypt launches Horus 1 satellite for remote sensing from China". Egypt Independent. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  10. ^ "Egypt Approves Establishing Egyptian Space Agency | Egyptian Streets". 27 September 2017. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  11. ^ "Egypt's Parliament approves establishing space agency". Egypt Independent. 14 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  12. ^ "Sisi approves law on space agency". us.sis.gov.eg. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  13. ^ a b Adetola, Ayooluwa (23 August 2022). "Sherif Mohamed Sedky Appointed as CEO of Egyptian Space Agency". Space in Africa. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  14. ^ a b "السيرة الذاتية للرئيس التنفيذى لوكالة الفضاء المصرية بعد تجديد تعيينه.. القوصى أشرف على إطلاق أول قمر صناعى لمصر سنة 2007.. شارك فى مشروع قانون الفضاء المصرى.. وأسهم فى Egyptsat-1 كرئيس مجموعة القدرة الكهربية". اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 27 August 2020. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  15. ^ Africa, Space in (24 August 2019). "Egyptian Space Agency Inaugurates Its Board Of Directors, Gets A New CEO". Space in Africa. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  1. ^ http://mohesr.gov.eg/en-us/Documents/sr_strategy.pdf
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