October Space Week Recap + African Space Highlights
October marked World Space Week, and at L.U.N.A. (Loapi Unified Nexus Afrispace Agency), we joined the celebration in our own grounded yet cosmic way by expanding knowledge, community, and vision. In case you missed last October's publication, you can find it here: Link
This month's L.U.N.A. Space Dialogue Webinar brought together learners, engineers, policymakers, dreamers, and builders across Africa and the diaspora. Together, we explored what it means for Africa not just to participate in space, but to lead in shaping its future. With the theme: “Africa's Rising Influence: Pioneering Innovation and Shaping Global Space Policy.”
🌍 Quick Meeting Recap
We opened with warm introductions and light-hearted weather conversations from Paris to Cape Town (yes, even penguins were mentioned 🐧). From there, we went deep: What is L.U.N.A.? L.U.N.A. is committed to building African capacity in space education, research, compliance, and industry development. We aim to: 1. Equip Africans with practical space-related skills 2. Promote policy and governance literacy in space activities 3. Encourage African-led innovation and collaboration Key Speakers Natasha Van Rooyen—Standards & Compliance Specialist, leading the African Space Identity Series and developing the Space Industry Dynamics Index. Ian Elly Ssali Kiggundu—space law specialist focusing on sustainable governance, ESG, and legal frameworks shaping Africa’s presence in orbit and beyond.
🚀 Main Themes Discussed
| Focus Area | What We Explored |
| Africa in Global Space Governance | The rise of Africa's voice in a new multipolar space world. |
| Space Policy & Legal Frameworks | Why compliance, treaties, national laws & ESG matter. |
| Infrastructure & Launch Ambitions | Platforms in Kenya, opportunities in Djibouti, and growing satellite programs. |
| Capacity Building & Education | The power of mentorship, technical committees, and interdisciplinary learning. |
We also dived into:
- Space debris mitigation standards (ISO 24113, IADC guidelines)
- The importance of transparent and ethical procurement
- Africa's demographic advantage and talent pipeline
- The need for Africans to tell our own story in space 🌍✨
🎮 The Interactive Fun Part
We tried something new: a Menti Quiz Icebreaker 🥳😊👌🥳. Let’s just say… competitive spirit was very alive. Shoutout to everyone who surprised themselves with their knowledge and quick thinking 💫
📺 Replay the Webinar
Missed it? No worries: catch the REPLAY
🌟 African Space News Highlight of the Month
🇦🇴 Angola Expands Its Space Leadership
This October, GGPEN (Angola’s National Space Program Management Office) signed an MoU with SES Satellites in Luxembourg, intending to advance satellite operations, training, and connectivity expansion.
This partnership strengthens:
ANGOSAT-2 satellite operations
The Connecta Angola digital inclusion initiative
Innovation capacity and technical training for local talent
Already, 360,000+ people across 14 provinces benefit from telephone and internet services, and the ripple effect is expanding beyond Angola’s borders.
This is Africa designing African solutions.
This is space serving people, not the other way around. 🌍🚀
Read more: Here
🤝 Community Action Points
Here’s how you can stay engaged:
Follow L.U.N.A. on LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook
Join the conversation using #LUNAAfrospace2025
Connect with our speakers on LinkedIn
Explore mentorship by reaching out to technical committees in your country
If you’re building something > start the conversation. Create your group, invite experts, and share knowledge.
Africa rises when Africans collaborate.
✨ Closing Note
October reminded us that Africa is not behind; we are simply entering the room on our own terms.
We are not spectators.
We are the architects.
And we are just getting started.
Stay tuned for the November Space Dialogue Series; updates are coming soon.
Until then, keep imagining, keep building, and keep reaching for the skies.