Chinese officials have formally handed over a satellite ground data receiving station to Namibia near the capital, Windhoek, according to Chinese state media, marking another milestone in China’s growing overseas space programme.
The Chinese-built facility will “significantly enhance Namibia’s ability to receive and process remote-sensing data from satellites,” the state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.
The project comes at a time when the United States has scaled back aid to African nations, while China continues to strengthen alliances and expand its space presence across the continent by providing satellites, laboratories and monitoring stations.
Beijing has said it supports African space development because it does not want any country to be left behind.
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Reuters has previously reported that China’s aid initiatives are also giving it access to a wider surveillance network as it pushes for space dominance.
Through satellites, telescopes and ground stations it has supplied to African countries, Beijing can access collected data and imagery.
Chinese personnel also maintain a long-term presence at facilities constructed on the continent.
“Namibia will fully own the satellite ground station and operate it independently,” Zhao Weiping, the Chinese ambassador to Namibia, was quoted by Xinhua as saying on Thursday.
He added that Chinese experts will continue providing technical support to the 14 local technicians they have trained. A second phase of the project is already being planned, the envoy said.
Photographs published by Xinhua show the dome-shaped facility bearing the words “CHINA AID FOR SHARED FUTURE” painted prominently on its exterior.
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Image Credit: South China Morning Post
