2011 Student CanSat Winners

I notice that teams from The US, Europe and Asia are well represented in the annual Cansat competition.

While we look and marvel at all this I keep wondering whether the AAS might be willing to introduce a CanSat awareness program in Kenya, for the Eastern Africa region. This would be a step towards a nascent CubeSat program that is still at concept satge.

South Africa (Southern Africa), Nigeria (Western Africa), Algeria (Northern Africa) have all joined the satellite club whereas Kenya, the regional power in Eastern Africa, will be commemorating its 50th independence jubilee in December 2013 without any significant space activity. Science 2030 is attempting to galvanize a CubeSat mission by getting local universities to collaborate in fundraising and participating in mission development but would benefit greatly from support from AAS. The prospect of having a satellite in space as the crowning glory of the 50the jubilee provides leverage with academia, The Government of Kenya, and companies that would want to benefit from brand association (literally the highest flying Kenyan brands). Additionally, the possibility of Rwanda, a smaller but nimbler neighbour, launching East Africa's first satellite is an awful prospect that would quickly transform our CubeSat concept to a national imperative due to need for national pride and technological self-confidence.

At present we have a commitment of facilitators from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology's FSATI program but these require airfare and stipend. We also, we have a 500 Euros commitment form GomSpace, Denmark. However, given the deadline element to 2013, we feel that AAS's endorsement would be invaluable in lending momentum, technical support and credence to a CubeSat initiative.

I notice that teams from The US, Europe and Asia are well represented in the annual Cansat competition.

While we look and marvel at all this I keep wondering whether the AAS might be willing to introduce a CanSat awareness program in Kenya, for the Eastern Africa region. This would be a step towards a nascent CubeSat program that is still at concept stage.

South Africa (Southern Africa), Nigeria (Western Africa), Algeria (Northern Africa) have all joined the satellite club whereas Kenya, the regional power in Eastern Africa, will be commemorating its 50th independence jubilee in December 2013 without any significant space activity. Science 2030 is attempting to galvanize a CubeSat mission by getting local universities to collaborate in fundraising and participating in mission development but would benefit greatly from support from AAS. The prospect of having a satellite in space as the crowning glory of the 50the jubilee provides leverage with academia, The Government of Kenya, and companies that would want to benefit from brand association (literally the highest flying Kenyan brands). Additionally, the possibility of Rwanda, a smaller but nimbler neighbour, launching East Africa's first satellite is an awful prospect that would quickly transform our CubeSat concept to a national imperative due to need for national pride and technological self-confidence.

At present we have a commitment of facilitators from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology's FSATI program but these require airfare and stipend. We also, we have a 500 Euros commitment form GomSpace, Denmark. However, given the deadline element to 2013, we feel that AAS's endorsement would be invaluable in lending momentum, technical support and credence to a CubeSat initiative.

It does seem like the US was well repesented in the CanStat Competition