The global space economy is worth a whopping $469 billion, and growing fast. Commercial interests are proliferating; more and more countries are launching satellites into space. Some African leaders aspire for their continent to become a knowledge, technology, and manufacturing hub for this new space age and to leverage space technologies to advance economic development. They are looking for global partners to join them in this quest.In this episode of Europe Listens, ECFR’s Rafael Loss and Jana Puglierin welcome Ruvimbo Samanga, a space law and policy advisor at Access Partnership, a global tech advisory firm. How can Africans and Europeans benefit from cooperating on space access and technologies, and what pitfalls should they look out for? What is “space junk” and how might a clean-up effort work in practice? And how can the EU’s space law best promote responsible behaviour on Earth and in outer space?This podcast was recorded on 7 July 2023.Other episodes of this season:Episode 1: Overcoming the global digital divide with Jane Munga Episode 2: Combatting online disinformation with Flora Rebello ArduiniFurther reading:Why Africa needs to be in space by Val MunsamiSpace innovation in Zimbabwe and beyond: Interview with Ruvimbo SamangaAfrican space strategy for social, political and economic integration by the African UnionMultilateral space: A European space oddity by Rafael Loss and Silvia Samorè

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