Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, has announced an initiative to rejuvenate the Luigi Broglio Space Centre, an Italian-operated launch site situated near Malindi, Kenya. This revival is part of a collaborative effort between Italy and Kenya, aligning with the objectives of the Mattei Plan—an Italian developmental program aimed at supporting African nations.
Minister Urso outlined the vision for the space centre, stating, “The idea is to give a new, more ambitious mission to this base and use it for the launch of low-orbit micro satellites for Earth observation, with a particular focus on monitoring climate change phenomena such as desertification.” He further emphasized the centre’s role in enhancing capacity building and providing training opportunities for Kenyan students, industry professionals, and scientists.
Kenya has successfully launched three satellites since 2018, although these have been deployed from foreign launch sites. The revitalization of the Luigi Broglio Space Centre is expected to significantly bolster Kenya’s space capabilities, offering the government and private entities a more cost-effective and convenient domestic launch option. This development is anticipated to yield several benefits, including increased revenue and a stronger position in the competitive space industry.
The Kenya Space Bill 2024 empowers the Cabinet Secretary to establish additional space centres for a variety of purposes, encompassing earth observation, navigation and positioning, space science and astronomy, satellite communications, space systems engineering, and launch operations. The bill also grants the Kenyan Space Agency the authority to sanction all launch activities conducted by Kenyan organizations, whether within the country or abroad.
During his visit to Kenya in October 2024, Minister Urso inaugurated the “Luigi Broglio Space Museum.” This museum serves as an educational resource for the public, celebrating the space centre’s historical significance and paying tribute to Professor Luigi Broglio, the pioneering founder of the project.
Minister Urso further declared that the space centre will embark on a new mission, transforming into a training hub for space professionals from African countries, especially those that have recently joined the newly established continental space agency.
The Luigi Broglio Space Centre, operated by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), is located approximately 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of Malindi and has been operational since the 1960s. The centre has been the site of over 28 launches from 1967 to 1988 and is now poised to enter a new era of space exploration and development.
