(Posted 10th May 2025)
The Future African Space Explorer’s STEM
Academy (FASESA) and Boeing [NYSE: BA] launched the second edition of the “Pathways
to Space” program in Africa.
On May 6, the educational program returned to Ethiopia and Nigeria and made its debut in
Kenya. The program will reach up to 300 state schools’ students aged 13-18. It is a
collaborative effort with local educational and government institutions in Ethiopia, Kenya,
and Nigeria.
“The ‘Pathways to Space’ program leverages Boeing’s extensive experience in space,
combined with FASESA’s proven educational methodologies and deep understanding of
the African educational landscape, to inspire the next generation to reach for the stars,”
said Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central Asia.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with Boeing. This program reflects our shared dedication to building Africa’s future workforce in space and other STEM fields,” said Sean Jacobs, executive director at FASESA.
The program seeks to provide immersive and interactive learning experience in space
sciences and astronautics, kindle interest in the space industry, and equip students with
essential skills for future success in aerospace careers. Over the next five months, students
will participate in weekly classes, hands-on simulations of spacewalks and robotic arm
control and collaborate on a capstone documentary about the importance of space
exploration. They will also discover what it takes to become an astronaut and learn about
various career paths in the space industry.
The first edition of the ‘Pathways to Space’ program in 2024 was a big success. Over 300
students from Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania explored the basics of space exploration,
culminating in the launch of a high-altitude balloon that carried payloads designed and
constructed by the students.
The “Pathways to Space” program builds on ambitious space exploration aspirations in the
region.
- Africa: The African Union (AU) officially launched the African Space Agency (AfSA)
on April 20, 2025, establishing a unified framework for advancing space technology
across the continent. AfSA based in Cairo, Egypt, will coordinate the space
exploration efforts of the AU’s 55 member countries as well as collaborations with
international partners. - Ethiopia: Ethiopia is preparing to launch its third Earth observation satellite by 2026
and plans to have a total of 10 satellites by 2035. - Kenya: Kenya’s space program is led by the Kenya Space Agency, established in
2017 to advance national development through space activities. It launched its first
satellite in 2018, followed by the operational Earth observation satellite Taifa-1 in
2023. - Nigeria: Since establishing its space agency in 1999, Nigeria has continued to
expand its space capabilities by successfully launching six satellites.
FASESA and Boeing aim to expand the reach of the ‘Pathways to Space’ program to other
African countries in the years to come.
Since 2008, Boeing has partnered with over 40 non-profit organizations in Africa and
invested $22 million to support systemic improvements in education and economic
empowerment.
