Ethiopia unveiled last Friday the first phase of a space
exploration programme, which includes East Africa's largest observatory
designed to promote astronomy research in the region.
"The optical astronomical telescope is mainly
intended for astronomy and astrophysics observation research," said
observatory director Solomon Belay.
The observatory, which was to formally be opened
over the weekend, boasts two telescopes, each one metre (over three
feet) wide, to see "extra planets, different types of stars, the Milky
Way, and deep galaxies," Mr Solomon added.
The $3.4 million dollar observatory, run by the
Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS), is funded by Ethiopian-Saudi
business tycoon Mohammed Alamoudi.
The observatory, 3,200 metres (10,500 feet) above
sea level in the lush Entoto mountains on the outskirts of the Ethiopian
capital Addis Ababa, is an ideal location because of its minimal cloud
cover, moderate winds and low humidity, experts said.
When established in 2004, ESSS was labelled as the
"Crazy People's Club", according to the group, but has gained
credibility in the past decade with astronomy courses introduced at
universities and winning increased political support.
The Ethiopian government is set to launch a space policy in coming years.
Mr Solomon said the group originally faced
sceptics in Ethiopia and abroad, who questioned whether space
exploration was a wise use of resources in one of Africa's poorest
economies, plagued in the past by chronic famine and unrest.
But Mr Solomon said promoting science is key to
the development in Ethiopia, today one of Africa's fastest growing
economies largely based on agriculture.
"If the economy is strongly linked with science,
then we can transform a poor way of agriculture into industrialisation
and into modern agriculture," he said.
The ESSS is now looking to open a second
observatory 4,200 metres (13,800 feet) above sea level in the
mountainous northern town of Lalibela, also the site of the largest
cluster of Ethiopia's ancient rock-hewn churches.
'Tourism'
Photographs from the ESSS show scientists with
testing equipment looking for the best site to put the next telescope on
the green and remote peaks, as local villagers wrapped in traditional
white blankets watch on curiously, sitting outside their thatch hut
homes.
Solomon hopes to boost "astronomy tourism" among
space fans interested in coming to one of the least likely countries in
the world to boast a space programme, an added economic benefit.
The country will also launch its first satellite
in the next three years, ESSS said, to study meteorology and boost
telecommunications.
Ethiopia is not the first African nation to look
to the skies; South Africa has its own National Space Agency, and in
2009 the African Union announced plans to establish The African Space
Agency.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, indicted by the
International Criminal Court for war crimes, has also called for a
continent-wide space programme.
Mr Solomon said while the next several years will
be about boosting research and data collection, along with promoting a
strong local and regional interest in astronomy, he is not ruling out
sending an Ethiopian into space one day.
"Hopefully we will," he said with a laugh. (AFP)
SOURCE: AFRICA REVIEW
SOURCE: AFRICA REVIEW
