China’s Deep Space Exploration Lab Signs MOU with Ethiopian and Kenyan Institutes
In a significant move towards international collaboration in space exploration, Hu Zhaobin, deputy director of China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Space Science and Geoinformation Institute (SSGI) in Ethiopia and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in Kenya.
The MOU with SSGI was signed in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on April 5, where SSGI director Abdissa Yilma expressed the institute’s commitment to participating in the construction of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). Hu Zhaobin, on the other hand, emphasized the potential for the project to boost Ethiopia’s aerospace sector and space exploration technologies.
Just a few days later, on April 8, Hu signed another cooperation memorandum with KAIST acting principal Jennifer W. Khamasi during a visit to the Konza Techno City in Kenya. Emmanuel Mutisya, KAIST council chairman, highlighted the research and education opportunities that would arise from the collaboration with ILRS and pledged to push the Kenyan government to join the project.
Hu extended invitations to both Yilma and Mutisya to attend the International Conference on Deep Space Exploration, known as the Tiandu Forum, to be held in China in September. These partnerships were solidified during the lab’s participation in the NewSpace Africa Conference in Angola earlier in April.
The ILRS currently has nine country members, including China, Russia, Venezuela, and South Africa, among others. The project aims to promote international cooperation in lunar exploration, while the US-led Artemis programme has garnered support from 38 countries for its Artemis Accords.
The SSGI, formerly known as the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute, was established in 2016 to advance space science and technology activities in Ethiopia. KAIST, under construction at the Konza Techno City, aims to lead research in science and technology and cultivate skilled scientists and engineers for Kenya’s industrial and modernization efforts.