Space Technology is one of the 21st century's main interests of the scientific, governmental and business sectors, not just to enhance the design and implementation of satellites but because its applications are highly diverse and can be extremely beneficial to many aspects of life. The Space Technology program aims to introduce students to the marvels of space sciences and their applications in our daily lives. The ultimate goal of the program is to support young people to pursue their studies and careers in the fields of science and technology in order to build Egypt’s future generation of scientists and researchers and create small scientific satellites to advance space research.

The program will support the development, construction, launch and operation of small satellites as well as the distribution and analysis of the scientific data; thus, introducing a new branch in innovative technologies and economics and encouraging the electronic industry to work in relation to space. Therefore, it will benefit the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) Planetarium Science Center’s (PSC) mission is to popularize science and technology among students and the public at large. The PSC collaborates with National Authority for Remote Sensing and space sciences (NARSS) to implement a series of small educational satellites such as a cube satellite called Alex-EduSat1.

Cube Satellite consists of a series of projects concerned with designing, implementing, testing, launching, and maintaining small satellites called Pico Satellites, with short development time and lower complexity than other types of satellites. Alex.EduSat-1, a two-year project, is one of these attempts to take large area shoots within the Egyptian territories to help in remote sensing studies related to the geology of Egyptian deserts, water resources and crops. Alex.EduSat-1 will provide valuable information through the captured images, which will be available on the internet. Beside its main scientific mission, it also has a cultural mission, which is to send a peace message directed from Egypt through space to the whole world, a message that could emphasize the role of science to make peace and create a better world.

Progress So Far
Agreement signature

Within the scope of the International Planetarium Society Conference held at the BA, 27 30 June 2010, the cooperation agreement was signed by the Library represented by its director Dr. Ismail Serageldin, and the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, represented by Dr. Ayman Desouky and Dr. Farouk El-Baz, Director of the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston-University. The Convention established a framework for cooperation between the two sides in the applications of space technology and remote sensing, scientific and academic training, scientific visits, cooperation in research and development, and joint scientific research.

The agreement also includes links with industry, academic and professional institutions to encourage scientific conferences and joint activities in general. Moreover, it aims to promote engineering and space industry in Egypt to encourage cooperation with companies and European universities in order to support the activities in the area of space. It also aims at improving the level of Faculty of Engineering graduates in Egypt to enable them to keep up with the high technology standards used in the global industry. The Convention will be useful to Egypt, specifically to the Ministry of Scientific Research and Higher Education, the Ministry of Education, Egyptian universities as well as research centers.