During French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit, Airbus Defence and Space made an announcement regarding the manufacturing of Angeo-1, the initial Angolan Earth observation satellite with very high performance. The agreement states that Airbus Defence and Space will produce Angeo-1 in France, further enhancing the collaboration between Angola and France.
“Space supports life on Earth. This is why I was honored to join Presidents João Lourenço and Emmanuel Macron to support Angola’s far-sighted space ambitions. As Angola’s strategic partner for space, Airbus will deliver a latest-generation Earth observation satellite to support social and economic development including a range of strategic activities such as urban planning and management of precious mineral resources,” according to Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Space Systems at Airbus.
Angola has already made use of satellite imagery from Airbus Defence and Space for several operational applications, including land use mapping, agriculture monitoring, and maritime surveillance. Angola also operates its own telecommunications satellite, Angosat-2. The Airbus S250 optical satellite, Angeo-1, will be built with Airbus’ extensive 30-year experience in creating highly reliable space systems. Once in operation, it will be the most advanced satellite in its class in the region, positioning Angola as a leading space power. The satellite will benefit Angola’s development in many sectors, improving the lives of its citizens.
Access to satellite imagery will contribute significantly to the development of infrastructure, mapping of natural resources, maritime surveillance, agriculture, and population. It will also provide a better understanding of the effects of climate change on the economy, including drought monitoring, rising sea levels, and water resources, which will improve disaster preparedness with better response rates and fewer asset losses. The partnership also includes a comprehensive training program for Angolan engineers to develop domestic competencies through targeted knowledge transfer.