Space Systems For African Solutions The Airbus Partnership Blueprint

The African space sector is witnessing significant advancements, driven by institutional and commercial initiatives.

Governments and private entities across the continent are increasingly investing in satellite technology, Earth observation, and connectivity solutions to address pressing challenges in agriculture, disaster management, and infrastructure development.\

Against this backdrop, Airbus Defence and Space has positioned itself as a strategic partner, supporting Africa’s ambitions through technology transfer, capacity building, and tailored space solutions.

At the 2025 NewSpace Africa Conference, we spoke with Stéphane Vesval, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales for Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space, to discuss the company’s long-standing engagement in Africa.

From Algeria’s Alsat programme to Angola’s ANGEO-1, Airbus has played a key role in advancing Africa’s space capabilities.

The conversation explored how the company collaborates with government and commercial stakeholders, its vision for sustainable space operations, and its plans to support the newly established African Space Agency.

Stéphane Vesval also shared insights on Airbus’s latest innovations, including next-generation Earth observation satellites and multi-orbit connectivity solutions, which are set to further enhance Africa’s access to critical space-based services.

In deep space, BepiColombo completed its sixth and final flyby of Mercury, with orbital insertion on track for late 2026.

ESM-3 joined ESM-2 at Cape Canaveral, where both modules are undergoing integration for future Artemis missions.

Preparations for the post-ISS era advanced significantly, with the Starlab team expanding in 2024 and laying strong foundations for commercial low Earth orbit infrastructure.

Airbus delivered 2,057 equipment units in 2024, underscoring our industrial resilience and the continued trust placed in our technology by global partners.