African countries have 41 satellites in Earth orbit with 38 of them launched by individual states, while the other three were multinational efforts.

Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space with the help of Chinese partners in order to track down agricultural data, africanews.space website has reported.

"This will be a foundation for our historic journey to prosperity," Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen said.

The satellite, ETRSS-1, was launched via China's Long March 4B rocket from the Taiyuan space base in northern China. The Asian nation has also covered most of the satellite's cost of around $8 million.

According to the country's Innovation and Technology Minister Getahun Mekuria, the satellite would save Ethiopia money as previously the country purchased remote-sensing data from foreign satellites.

The data is very sensitive for a country dependant on agriculture and forestry and vulnerable to flood, drought and other climate perils.

Ethiopia with a population of more than 100 million, has one of the world's fastest-growing economies with an average annual GDP growth of 9.9% since 2007.

Source: RIA Novosti

Related Links
Africa News
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Next year vital for Sahel's future: French army general
Paris (AFP) Dec 17, 2019
The future of the Sahel rests on what happens in the coming year, according to the military chief of staff of France, which has a fighting force in the jihadist-plagued region. "It is now, in the coming year, that the Sahel's future will be determined," Francois Lecointre told France Info radio. Only a political solution involving all the states of the region as well as the international community will guarantee security in the long run, he added. France has a 4,500-strong anti-jihadist forc ... read more