The Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Center, located in Kenya, is ASI's operational base outside the national territory under the 2004 Decree

​The Center was initially managed by "Sapienza" University of Rome through the San Marco Project Research Center (CRSPM). Being located below the equator line on the coast of the Indian Ocean, the Center is ideal for both launches and ground-based satellite control activities. The Center is comprised a Sea Segment, which is its main offshore launch site, and a Land Segment, represented by the communications ground station on the mainland.

The Center's core business is the reception of satellite and telemetry data and the tracking of carriers or other space objects. This makes the Broglio Space Center an important hub in the cooperation network with other countries and space agencies, such as NASA, the European (ESA), French (CNES), Argentine (CONAE) space agencies, the Kenyan Space Agency and those of other African countries, as well as commercial operators, such as SpaceX. Its equatorial location enhances the Center's unique potential.

The Center is also engaged in developing research projects and training activities, including the setting up of the International Center for Space Education in Africa, which will make the "Luigi Broglio" Space Center a training hub for the whole Continent.

The Center was first established by Professor Luigi Broglio in the 1960s, who thought Malindi was the right logistical and environmental location to set up a high-level scientific facility while at the same time laying the groundwork for a unique and strategic partnership with Kenya. That was when the 'San Marco' equatorial launch base was born.

The Santa Rita and San Marco Ocean platforms were 'inaugurated' in 1967 when the San Marco-2 satellite was launched from the San Marco launch site. The partnership with NASA, which contributed to the project by providing launchers, was a key element in its overall success.

 A total of 9 satellites took off from the Center between 1967 and 1988: 4 were part of the San Marco program, 4 were U.S. satellites and one was  British. Some 20 orbital missions were also launched.

The Center (Longitude 40.19 degrees east – Latitude 2.99 degrees south) covers an area of about 3.5 hectares on the Indian Ocean coast about 32 km from Malindi. It can be reached traveling along the Kenyan coastline. The Center's presence in Kenya, which dates back to 1966, is currently governed by a renewable 15-year intergovernmental agreement, first signed in 1995. It envisagd activites such as launches, satellite-data reception, remote sensing and training activites to be carried out both in Italy and on site.

Italy has agreed to provide programs, equip and operate the Center, provide logistics, and train and employ local staff. In turn Kenya provides the site, upon payment of a modest fee and the commitment that Italy will train and employ local labor. The local government must be informed about the programs that can benefit from the support of the Center and requires, only for commercial programs, a royalty to be set on the basis of each commercial agreement. At the end of the 15-year period, the equipment will become the property of Kenya.

The last launch - a Scout launcher carrying the San Marco D/L satellite- was performed on March 25, 1988. Since then, the platforms have remained unused and subject only to routine maintenance.

The Land Segment is comprised of a series of masonry and wooden buildings that serve both as living quarters and service facilities, a marina for docking vessels connecting with the platforms, and 3 Ground Stations (antenna systems) for in-orbit control and the acquisition of telemetry from satellites and launchers. The 3 stations are:

S-Band Station, equipped with a 10-meter dish, used for ASI programs;

S/X/L Band Station, equipped with a 10-meter dish, engaged in monitoring launchers (Arianespace, Titan) and providing support to the initial phases of commercial satellites  (LEOP)

and the X-Band Station, equipped with a 6-meter dish used to acquire remote sensing data (ERS2, Spot, Landsat).

The Center is connected to Italy via Intelsat satellites as part of the Italian Space Agency's ASI-net network.

‣ News

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Working Group Africa Training of Trainer Program ‣

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From October 14 to 18, 2024, Milan hosted the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), one of the largest global events in the space sector, which brought together space agencies, universities, research centers, industries, and numerous representatives from civil society around the world. This unique opportunity for dialogue and collaboration offered an unprecedented chance for the development of space capabilities in emerging countries this year. Among the participants, with the support of ASI in collaboration with the Ministry of University and Research, were 14 Fellows—young professionals and students, including 9 women and 5 men—hailing from 11 African countries: Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda. This participation reflects the commitment of the Italian Government under the Mattei Plan for Africa, aimed at fostering greater inclusivity and diversity in the space sector, with a particular focus on promoting African youth talent. In addition to these promising individuals, 12 SMEs and startups from various African countries had the opportunity to participate in this important event. These companies included:

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These African companies were invited to participate in IAC 2024 as part of the collaboration between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and ICE Agency. Thanks to ICE’s support, the businesses were accompanied by commercial analysts and hosted in a large exhibition area, where they had the opportunity to hold B2B meetings and participate in the conference's various networking initiatives. Their participation allowed them to gain full visibility into cutting-edge developments across all space domains. Furthermore, ICE Agency, within the framework of its collaboration with ASI, also hosted heads of space agencies and institutions responsible for space policies from African countries. This initiative strengthens ties between Italy and emerging space nations, promoting sustainable partnerships and the development of local capabilities through knowledge exchange and technological innovation. The 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan thus reaffirms itself as a crucial event not only for the global space community but also for emerging nations, offering a valuable opportunity to build lasting collaborations and advance the development of the space sector in Africa.

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