A collaborative climate monitoring payload developed by East African partners is set to be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the region’s space and climate innovation efforts.
The Climate Camera (ClimCam) Payload will be transported aboard the Cygnus NG-42 mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and installed on the ISS, where it will operate from the Airbus Bartolomeo platform attached to the European Columbus Module.
The project is the result of a partnership between the Egyptian Space Agency, Kenya Space Agency, and the Uganda National Space Programme.
ClimCam underwent Assembly, Integration, and Testing at facilities in Cairo, followed by end-to-end validation at Airbus facilities in Houston, Texas, confirming its readiness for space operations.
Once deployed, the payload is expected to deliver AI-powered, near-real-time weather and climate data to support disaster management, natural resource planning, and climate resilience across Eastern Africa.
The project was selected under an international initiative led by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space, aimed at expanding global access to space-based technologies.
The launch represents a major step forward in leveraging space technology to address climate challenges in the region.
