As a committed international partner to Africa’s NewSpace movement, SATLANTIS continues to demonstrate how highresolution optical satellite technology can address real world challenges across the continent.
We spoke with Juan Tomás Hernani, CEO of SATLANTIS, during the 2025 NewSpace Africa Conference to understand their strategic vision, technical solutions, and on the ground engagement in African markets.
While other markets like Europe are saturated with institutional policies that drive a technology first approach to space, Africa represents a young and vibrant opportunity to drive space innovation based on real societal and technological challenges.
These include climate change, water quality and scarcity, precision agriculture, illegal mining, fire prevention, coastal monitoring, illegal fishing detection, maritime traffic, and enforcing appropriate behaviour at sea, which are key issues for nearly every African nation.
Africa’s unique strength lies in its ability to coordinate implementation efficiently.
Unlike more fragmented ecosystems in mature markets, African space programmes can quickly align all stakeholders, leading to rapid deployment and measurable impact.
This enables us to offer streamlined, impact-oriented models that deliver real value quickly rather than replicating Europe’s longer, more complex timelines.
Africa doesn’t need to follow the same path it can leapfrog into the future by embracing NewSpace innovation tailored to its own development needs.
Space offers a fantastic opportunity to accelerate progress in these areas.
SATLANTIS has recognised the need to connect deeply with the African spirit and become a true, long term partner to several countries, working together to solve these critical national challenges.
Yes I’d like to close with a point of passion. We’re struck by their energy, drive, and talent whenever we visit African universities or engage with young professionals.
It’s deeply inspiring.
We firmly believe that space, particularly NewSpace, offers a transformational opportunity for Africa’s youth.
It’s more than technology a pathway to meaningful careers and a better managed, more sustainable continent.
This is what drives SATLANTIS a human mission to empower people, especially the next generation, to lead the future.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2025/05/19/satellites-for-sovereignty-how-satlantis-is-tailoring-space-tech-to-africas-unique-challenges/
