Kenya, Uganda, and Egypt have marked a major milestone in African space collaboration with the launch of the Climate Camera (ClimCam) to the International Space Station, aimed at delivering near-real-time environmental data across East Africa.
The payload was launched on April 8, 2026, aboard a Cygnus NG-42 mission using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The project is a joint effort between the Egyptian Space Agency, the Kenya Space Agency, and the Uganda National Space Programme.
ClimCam will be installed on the Airbus Bartolomeo platform attached to the Columbus module of the ISS, where it will capture and transmit climate data. Developed with AI capabilities, the system will support disaster response, agriculture, and water management by monitoring threats such as floods and droughts.
The project was selected by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space, highlighting its global significance.
Officials say the initiative strengthens Africa’s role in space innovation, as Kenya prepares to host the Global Data Festival and the Kenya Space Expo and Conference 2026 in June.
