Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute

Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute
Formation14 October 2016; 8 years ago (2016-10-14)[1]
HeadquartersAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
Region served
Ethiopia
Director-General
Abdisa Yilma
Deputy Director-General
Yeshurun Alemayehu Adde
AffiliationsEthiopian Space Science Society
Budget190 million birr[2] (2022)
Websiteetssti.org

The Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI) is an Ethiopian institute for research, training and infrastructure development in space science, created in 2016.[3][4]

Creation

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The Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS) was created as a citizens' association in 2004. ESSS helped to organise the creation of Entoto Observatory in 2014 and of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute in 2016.[5] ESSTI was formally established by the Hailemariam Desalegn Cabinet, under regulation No. 916/2015.[3]

Aims

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ESSTI was mandated to carry out research and training in space science and to develop and encourage space science and aerospace development and infrastructure in Ethiopia.[3]

Leadership and structure

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Abdissa Yilma was ESSTI's general director in 2021.[6] As of December 2020, Yeshurun Alemayehu was ESSTI's deputy general director.[7]

Together with the creation of ESSTI, the Space Council was created to oversee Ethiopian space science policies and the implementation of ESSTI proposals.[4]

Satellite launches

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ESSTI's first satellite, ETRSS-1, is a 72 kg remote sensing microsatellite, co-designed by Ethiopian and Chinese engineers and launched in December 2019.[7]

ESSTI's second satellite, ET-SMART-RSS, an 8.9 kg nanosatellite, also designed and built in Ethiopian–Chinese collaboration, was launched from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on 22 December 2020.[7][8]

Research and teaching

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Research and teaching departments in ESSTI include the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Department, with research in fields including extragalactic astronomy,[9] stellar astronomy, cultural astronomy and cosmology.[5] As of February 2021, the department had graduated 11 master's students and 5 doctoral students.[5][10] Mirjana Pović, an assistant professor of the department and head of the department from 2018 to 2020, was awarded the inaugural Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal in 2021 by the European Astronomical Society for her contributions to the development of "astronomy, science and education as a route out of poverty and to improve the quality of life for young people in Africa."[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Mapping Ethiopia's Space Interest | The Reporter | Latest Ethiopian News Today". www.thereporterethiopia.com. 2022-04-09. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  2. ^ Master, Web. "Space Institute Takes First Steps in Sluggish Satellite Projects – (Addis) Fortune – The Largest English Weekly in Ethiopia!". Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  3. ^ a b c "Accountable Institutions". Ministry of Innovation and Technology (Ethiopia). 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  4. ^ a b Aby (2020-02-11). "Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute Vacancy". Ayer Bayer. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  5. ^ a b c Pović, Mirjana (2022). "Development of astronomy research and education in Africa and Ethiopia". Education and Heritage in the Era of Big Data in Astronomy (IAU S367). Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union Symposia and ColloquiaIAU Symposia. Vol. 367. Cambridge University Press. arXiv:2102.04717. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  6. ^ "About". Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute. 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  7. ^ a b c Akhalbey, Francis (2020-12-24). "Ethiopia successfully launches second satellite into space, with help from China again". Face2Face Africa. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  8. ^ "Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute says second shuttle launched". Borkena. 2020-12-22. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  9. ^ Pović, Mirjana (2021). "Development in astronomy in Ethiopia and East-Africa through nuclear activity in galaxies". In Pović, Mirjana; Marziani, Paola (eds.). Nuclear Activity in Galaxies Across Cosmic Time (IAU S356). Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union Symposia and ColloquiaIAU Symposia. Vol. 356. Cambridge University Press. pp. 3–8. arXiv:2004.12434. doi:10.1017/S174392132000246X. ISBN 9781108492010. S2CID 216553026. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  10. ^ "EORC – Entoto Observatory and Research Center". Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute. 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  11. ^ "Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal". European Astronomical Society. 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
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