Senegalese engineers are working in a laboratory in Montpellier, France, to build a small satellite known as a nanosatellite. This satellite will be equipped with a compact "black box," a term used to describe a device that stores critical data and controls the satellite's functions. The goal is to launch it into space and establish a local satellite industry in Senegal. AFP reports that Gayane Faye, head of the Senegalese space program Sensat, says the team has already mastered the manufacturing process and plans to build a new headquarters near Dakar for future satellite construction. This effort is part of Senegal’s broader goal to become more technologically independent and reflects a rising interest in space exploration across Africa. Previously, Sensat engineers built Gaindesat-1A, a satellite launched in 2024 in partnership with the University of Montpellier. The next version, Gaindesat-1B, is designed to gather environmental and climate data and will be developed entirely by Senegal, without outside help, according to Faye. Meanwhile, the International Space Summit in Paris is set to take place this week, where African representatives are expected to discuss space-related advancements and collaborations. Africa’s space programs have seen significant growth in recent years. According to Temidayo Oniosun, founder of the consulting firm Space in Africa, national space budgets across the continent have risen from less than $300 million in 2018 to $800 million today. This increase is driven by existing funding, the creation of the African Union’s continental space agency in Cairo, and the expansion of space programs from eight countries in 2018 to 20 today. While Africa has been involved in space exploration for decades—Egypt launched its first satellite in 1998 and Nigeria established its national space agency in 1999—many countries still rely on international partners for satellite technology and data. In South Africa, a historical leader in African space efforts, a ground station monitors numerous satellite launches, and a second station, built with NASA, is expected to be completed in two years. Meanwhile, new players are emerging, such as Ivory Coast, which recently appointed the director of its first space agency and plans to host the African Space Expo soon. Access to satellite data is increasingly seen as vital for urban planning and environmental monitoring, especially as African cities grow rapidly and climate change affects communities reliant on agriculture and fishing. While progress is being made, challenges remain, such as the need for local satellite manufacturing and better access to satellite imagery, which Senegal and Nigeria currently lack due to limited resources.