satellite

Turkey starts building Somalia spaceport, a strategic equatorial launch site drawing global scrutiny Turkey has begun constructing a satellite and rocket launch site on Somalia’s Indian Ocean coast, a bold step that Ankara says will accelerate its space ambitions and that outside observers say is already drawing intense attention from rival powers. The spaceport — publicly backed by Baykar chairman Selçuk Bayraktar — is being developed under Turkish state authority on a roughly 30-by-30-kilometer coastal tract. Turkish…

MOGADISHU — Somalia has acceded to the Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO), a step the federal government says will upgrade the country’s maritime safety, search-and-rescue capacity and technological integration across its busy coastline. Ports and Marine Transport Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nor deposited Somalia’s instrument of accession during a meeting with International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez on the sidelines of the IMO Assembly’s 34th regular…

Somalia’s space ambitions meet environmental realities Somalia’s coastline and equatorial latitude have thrust Bashaqle, in Middle Shabelle, into conversations about an African launch site. The prospect promises strategic access to orbit and a pathway into the global space economy. It also brings complex environmental, health, and governance questions that must be addressed before ignition. Equatorial launches reduce fuel needs and enable heavier payloads to orbit, making Bashaqle geographically attractive. Turkey’s…

Somalia's Ambitious Step into the Cosmos: A New Era or Overambition? In an unexpected announcement that has captured imaginations globally, Somalia is exploring plans to become the world’s next satellite launching pad. While this may seem like a bold step for a nation grappling with reconstruction, the possibility hints at broader aspirations and potential implications for Somalia and the global stage. Exploring a New Frontier Mohamed Mahmud Allaale, a seasoned communications strategist and advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of…

Recent satellite images of Spain's Valencia region vividly illustrate the immense destruction wrought by catastrophic flooding. Captured by the commercial earth imaging company Planet Labs, these photos were taken in the aftermath of a torrential storm system that unleashed an astonishing amount of rainfall—equivalent to an entire year’s worth—across southeastern Spain within just a few hours, specifically from the day after Tuesday. Tragically, the disaster has claimed at least 211 lives, marking it as one of the most…

Amnesty International has conducted new research on violence in the English-speaking west of Cameroon. The English-speaking regions are the scene of a deadly conflict between the Cameroonian army and armed separatists, from the country's English-speaking minority. Satellite images confirm testimonies coming back from the ground of civilian crimes, summary executions and destruction of homes.…