| (GSSTI) Ghana Space Agency | |
 | |
| Space Science andSpace Exploration overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2 May 2012; 13 years ago (2012-05-02) |
| Type | Space travel;Space exploration;Space medicine;Space research; andAstronomy |
| Headquarters | Ga East, Greater Accra 5°39′47″N0°13′48″W / 5.66310°N 0.23002°W /5.66310; -0.23002 |
| Employees | 23 |
| Ministers responsible |
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| ChildSpace Science andSpace Exploration |
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| Website | https://gssti.org |
TheGhana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) was opened officially on 2 May 2012 asGhana’s firstspace science,space exploration,astronomy and technologyspace agency.[1] It is an Institution under the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. GSSTI andGhana Space Agency (GhSA) aim to become an arena of excellence in space science, space exploration andspace technology through teaching, learning,private spaceflight and space research commercialisation. The centre andspace agency will also allow scientists and astronauts to conduct research into astrophysics,remote sensing, natural resource management,weather forecasting, agriculture and national security.[2]
The Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) was first established as a Centre under the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS) in January 2011 and launched in May 2012. It was later upgraded to an Institute in August 2013, to exploit space science and technology for socio-economic development of the country.[3][4]
The GSSTI space agency's first flagship project is the Ghana RadioAstronomy Project which will see the abandonedVodafone earthsatellite station atKuntunse, nearAccra which have the 32 metre dish turned into aradio astronomy telescope. In 2012, work was conducted by Ghanaian experts of the GSSTI and South African experts of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-SA) ofSouth African National Space Agency to replace worn out parts.[1] The 32 metre radio telescope was commissioned as the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory (GRAO) on 24 August 2017, by the President of Ghana,HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and the Minister of Science of South Africa, Hon Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor.
The GSSTI is working with theChina National Space Administration to engage withastronauts, students, and young professionals about collaboration with the centre and space agency; and it has already embarked on outreach programmes to schools and has run tours to scientific sites.[2]
Between the years of 2012 and 2024, Ghana is reportedly seekingUSD 5–10 billion in finance and funding support to develop the centre's infrastructure and human capacity. It has approached a global consortium of multinational institutions – including theChina Development Bank, and the bankHSBC – as well as requesting technical advice from theChina National Space Administration, andNASA for space science exploration, and institutions in Japan,Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and India,Indian Space Research Organisation.[1]
The agency is planning to complete its first satellite by 2020. In 2015, the government allocated $10 million to research nuclear and space science technology. The goal of the funding is to increase outreach and work towards Earth imaging satellites, so they do not have to purchase imagery from other countries. As of 2016, there are 20 employees working at the institute. A major driver of Earth monitoring satellites is to curtail the increase inillegal mining, which has a negative effect on the environment.[5]
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