Exactly 50 years since the first successful made-man satellite (Sputnik1) was launched into orbit, African space professionals are gathering to deliberate the role of space science and technology in Africa's development.

Science and Technology Minister, Mosibudi Mangena will deliver a keynote address during the opening session of the four-day conference on 2 October 2007.

The emphasis of the conference will be on knowledge and skills development through capacity building, knowledge sharing, joint participation in mutually beneficial projects, and bilateral and international cooperation.

The conference will furthermore:

• Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on how space technology could address Africa's development challenges and contribute to its development agenda;
• Identify opportunities for cooperation in the use of space technology for the development and benefit of Africa.
• Identify common capacity-building requirements and cooperative means to address such needs.
• Sensitize African countries to be pro-active in the implementation of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) recommendations.
• Seek ways to enhance Africa’s participation in global space forums, such as Group on earth Observation (GEO), Committee on Earth Observation Satellite (CEOS) and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).

Programme for the African Space Leadership Conference

A series of non-technical, high-level presentations aimed at policy and decision making on the role and benefits of space technology for development in Africa will be presented.

Participants will also visit nearby space-related research facilities such as the Satellite Applications Centre and Hartebeeshoek Radio Astronomy.

The 1^st African Leadership Conference on Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Development was held in Abuja, Nigeria in November 2005.

Issued by the Department of Science and Technology