The launch occurred at 1:41 p.m. East African Time (EAT) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, USA, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Cygnus NG-24 mission.
CEO Magued Ismail described the ClimCam project as a qualitative step in the agency’s efforts to expand Egypt’s presence in the global space sector through advanced technology and strengthened scientific partnerships that support development and sustainability goals.
The mission is part of a joint scientific partnership involving the Egyptian Space Agency, the Kenya Space Agency, and Uganda’s national space programme, aiming to enhance climate monitoring capabilities in East Africa.
Ismail noted that the project reflects an advanced model of international and African cooperation, integrating expertise and resources to deliver practical solutions to environmental challenges and reinforcing the role of space technology in serving communities.
The ClimCam payload was launched aboard the Cygnus NG-24 mission and will be installed on the Bartolomeo platform attached to the European Columbus module on the ISS. The platform is operated by Airbus and provides a state-of-the-art environment for scientific experiments and space technology demonstrations in low Earth orbit.
ClimCam is an advanced Earth observation camera system based on multispectral imaging technologies supported by artificial intelligence algorithms. It is designed to capture and analyse images of areas affected by extreme climate phenomena such as droughts and floods.
The data collected is expected to support rapid disaster response, improve resource management, and enhance monitoring of agricultural productivity across East Africa.
The system is scheduled to operate for one year aboard the ISS, providing periodic data and imagery to support climate monitoring efforts and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts in vulnerable regions.
The project was selected through an international competition organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, underscoring its global significance and contribution to scientific and technological innovation.
The Egyptian Space Agency said the mission represents a key step in advancing space science and technology in Africa, reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to supporting regional and international cooperation and leveraging space technologies to address development and sustainability challenges.
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