Tunisia Advances Plans for First Government Satellite with Chinese Firm

Tunisia's first government satellite project, a 6U CubeSat for Earth observation, is being developed in collaboration with a Chinese private firm and the Tunisian Air Force. The satellite aims to enhance national development priorities through capacity building and satellite imagery utilization.

Tunisia's historical engagement with space dates back to 1967, with the signing of the Outer Space Treaty and subsequent establishment of key institutions like the National Commission for Outer Space Affairs in 1984 and the National Centre for Mapping and Remote Sensing (CNCT) in 1988. The country has also pursued international partnerships, including a 2018 agreement with China for the Beidou Satellite Navigation System and a 2019 MoU with India for peaceful space exploration. This project, alongside the 2021 launch of the Challenge ONE nanosatellite, positions Tunisia as a burgeoning player in the African and Arab space sectors, emphasizing applications in agriculture and environmental monitoring.