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  • Ethiopia Shoots for the Stars and Galaxies as it Aims to Become Space Science Hub | Inter Press Service
    http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/06/ethiopia-shoots-for-the-stars-and-galaxies-as-it-aims-to-become-space-scien

    High up in the eucalyptus-strewn Entoto Mountains, which overlook the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, work is nearly complete on the country’s first observatory. Studying the stars and the galaxies will be vital for this Horn of Africa nation’s development and will hopefully also go a long way to developing brotherly love, say scientists who are part of the project.

    “Space technology is often considered a luxury only for developed countries,” Solomon Belay, director of the Entoto Observatory and Research Centre, tells IPS. “But it’s actually a basic and vital need for development.”

    He points out that space science technology and research can be applied to many basic necessities of life including health, energy, food security and environmental management.

    Ah oui, ça va sûrement aider à garantir la sécurité alimentaire du pays qui a cédé des millions d’hectares de terres pour des productions destinées à l’exportation

    Already another observatory is planned to be built near Lalibela, home to Ethiopia’s famous rock-hewn churches. It would be even higher at about 4,200m.

    It is hoped that the observatories will kick start a scientific culture in Ethiopia, an important boost to socio-economic development, those involved tell IPS, as space science has applications in myriad areas in the public and private sectors.

    Josef Huber, a systems engineer with German-based Astelco Systems that built and installed the Entoto Observatory’s telescopes, who volunteers at a public observatory in Munich, Germany, points out that studying the stars is more than just about development.

    “When people see Saturn for the first time, and it’s not just a picture, they’re really impressed,” he tells IPS.

    “For many people their world is their home and neighbours — when you see beyond that, you will never fight with your neighbour, especially if you realise a star could explode and wipe out a galaxy.”

    #Ethiopie #observatoire #espace