Angola: Angola will join the network of partner agencies of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the first time, as part of an event scheduled for 14 and 15 November in more than 100 cities worldwide. The event, regarded as the world's largest space competition, will be held as part of the International Space Apps Challenge 2026. Angola will be represented by the National Space Programme Management Office (GGPEN), according to a press release sent to ANGOP on Tuesday.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the GGPEN's inclusion provides a unique opportunity for young Angolans wishing to take part in international competitions related to the aerospace sector and will help strengthen co-operation between Angola and the global space community. As a partner space agency, GGPEN will play a role in jointly promoting the event, mobilising Angola's technological and scientific communities and strengthening the national space innovation ecosystem. It will also help connect young people, researchers, start-ups and national institutions with opportunities offered by the space economy.
The statement highlights that GGPEN's participation strengthens Angola's position in the international space ecosystem and is aligned with the National Space Programme's strategy of promoting skills development, innovation, and technological entrepreneurship through the use of space technologies and data. The initiative currently has 17 partner space agencies, including three from Africa - Nigeria, Senegal, and Angola - which contribute to promoting international co-operation and connecting cities and countries during the event.
The statement said NASA would provide space-based satellite data, while partner space agencies would provide additional space-based data that participants could use to develop innovative solutions to challenges related to Earth and space. During the event, students, researchers, programmers, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and professionals from different fields will work in multidisciplinary teams to turn space data into solutions to global challenges.
Registration for the 2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge will open on 26 August this year, allowing participants from different fields to take part in the world's largest space hackathon. The event has been held annually since 2012 and promotes international co-operation through the use of scientific and technological data to develop solutions that help address global challenges and accelerate sustainable development.
