The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) has announced the successful launch of the Climate Camera (ClimCam) Payload destined for the International Space Station (ISS).
KSA said the CimCam payload was deployed aboard the Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL commercial resupply mission (NG-24) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida yesterday at 1:41 PM.
“The liftoff aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, 11 April 2026 at 1.41 pm East African Time,” KSA said in a press statement issued last night.
It added, “The ClimCam is among several payloads and other supplies to the ISS aboard the Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL commercial resupply mission (NG-24).”
Upon arrival, KSA says the spacecraft will dock with the station as part of its scheduled resupply mission.
The spacecraft is expected to dock with the orbiting laboratory on Monday, April 13, 2026, where it will deliver supplies and scientific payloads, including ClimCam.
The ClimCam is a product of collaborative effort between the Kenya Space Agency (KSA), the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA), and the Uganda National Space Programme.
Its development entailed multiple phases of design, assembly, integration, testing, and validation.
“Key milestones included successful Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) at EgSA facilities in Cairo, followed by comprehensive end-to-end testing and fit-checks at Airbus facilities in Houston, Texas,” KSA added.
The ClimCam is equipped with AI-powered capabilities and designed to deliver near real-time weather and climate data.
It is expected to play a crucial role in environmental monitoring, natural resource management, disaster preparedness, and climate resilience initiatives across Eastern Africa.
The project was selected under a competitive Announcement of Opportunity issued by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space, as part of the Access to Space for All initiative requiring consortiums to develop a payload that would be flown on the Airbus platform in the ISS
The agency termed the successful launch of ClimCam as a significant step in strengthening Africa’s presence in the global space ecosystem.
“This successful launch marks a major step forward in strengthening Africa’s presence in the global space ecosystem and reaffirms Kenya’s commitment to leveraging space technology for sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and regional cooperation,” KSA’s statement stated.
The data generated will support evidence-based decision-making across Eastern Africa, helping governments and agencies respond more effectively to climate-related challenges.
“Beyond its scientific and technological impact, ClimCam exemplifies African collaboration in the space sector. The mission integrates expertise in space systems engineering, Earth observation, artificial intelligence, and data analytics, showcasing the continent’s growing capacity to develop transformative space technologies.”
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