Egypt, Kenya, and Uganda launch ClimCam climate-monitoring camera to International Space Station

Egypt, Kenya, and Uganda have successfully launched the ClimCam climate-monitoring camera to the International Space Station ISS. The Egyptian Space Agency EgSA announced the launch, which occurred on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 01:41 p.m. Cairo time as part of the Cygnus NG-24 mission. ClimCam is designed to monitor climate change and enhance the ability to track extreme weather events in East Africa. This mission is a collaboration between the EgSA, the Kenya Space Agency, and the Uganda National Space Programme. The camera will be installed on the Airbus-operated Bartolomeo platform aboard the ISS. ClimCam is an advanced Earth-observation camera system utilizing multispectral imaging technologies supported by AI algorithms to capture and analyze images from areas affected by extreme climate events like droughts and floods. The data from ClimCam is expected to aid in rapid disaster response, improve resource management, and enhance agricultural productivity monitoring in East Africa. The project was selected through an international competition organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs UNOOSA. The system is anticipated to operate for one year on the ISS, providing regular data and imagery to support climate change monitoring and adaptation efforts in affected regions. The EgSA highlighted this initiative as a significant milestone for space science and technology in Africa, demonstrating Egypt's commitment to regional and international scientific coope