Ethiopian Space Scientist Kitaw Ejigu

 Engineer Kitaw Ejigu, Ph.D.  Founder and Former Chairman of the Ethiopian National  United Front           

Kitaw Ejigu
Born	February 25, 1948 Bonga, Kaffa, Ethiopia
Died	January 13, 2006 United States
Nationality	Ethiopian and American
Occupation	scientist (Chief of Spacecraft and Satellite Systems engineer)

Kitaw Ejigu (Amharic: ቅጣው እጅጉ; February 25, 1948 - January 13, 2006) was an Ethiopian American scientist who worked for NASA as Chief of Spacecraft and Satellite Systems engineer.^[1] He was also a political leader.^[2][3]

Early life

Kitaw was born in Bonga, Kaffa, Ethiopia. He attended his High School study at the 27th High School in Jimma. After completing his highschool Kitaw joined Bahir Dar Polytechnic Institute, and in 1966, graduated as the top student in his class. He received his diploma in mechanical engineering with specialization in agricultural technology. After graduation, Kitaw worked at the Ethiopian Automotive Services and Sales Company (EASSCO) as chief technical advisor and assistant manager for two years.
In 1972, he won a scholarship from the Japanese Overseas Technical Association and traveled to Japan. There, Kitaw studied automotive engineering at Hiroshima University as well as language and economics at Osaka University. He later moved to the United States, where he began intensive research and training and earned an MBA in 1979. He then completed his doctorate in space vehicle systems engineering from Northrop University in California.

Career

Upon completion of his studies and researches in the late 1970s, he started working for NASA as a system engineer and space research scientist. He collaborated with other scientists on the space shuttle and other rocketry projects.^[4] Kitaw Ejigu was one of Ethiopia's first aerospace scientists. Kitaw also worked for Rockwell International and Boeing.
Apart from his work as an aerospace scientist, he was also known for his efforts to bring about political change in Ethiopia. He publicly denounced the regime in Ethiopia and its actions and policies. Even though he was ambitious about using his knowledge, experience and high-status to help his homeland Ethiopia, he repeatedly said he was not made welcome by the regime. In 2002, he founded a political party, the Ethiopian National United Front, to help overthrow Meles Zenawi's regime.
Kitaw Ejigu died at the age of 58 on 13 January 2006 in the United States; prior to his death, he was planning to work with the founder of Africa Needs Community Development Corporation, Tad Worku. His goal was to implement his valuable knowledge for the people of Africa and the world to see.


                                             DERTOGADA -CONSPIRACY THOERY

LALIBELA MOUNTAINS

ESSS STEPS FURTHER INTO LALIBELA MOUNTAINS

Fig1. Mount Aboye gara site

ESSS has taken a giant step forward to realize one of its main objectives, that is, to enable Ethiopia to reap the benefits accruing from space science and technology, through International Astronomical Observatory in the highland of Lalibela.
Experts have pinpointed the highlands Around Lalibela as the promising sites for a future astronomical and space observatory from which to explore space. Observatory site selection involves in-depth investigation and years of study and evaluation.
According to a preliminary study undertaken around Lalibela, which include Mount Abune Yosef (Lasta district,4280 M Above Sea Level), Mount Abohaye gara(Gidan District 4140 M, above sea level) and Mount Mahe Wadla (Gashena District, 3800 M Above Sea Level), are considered potential sites for an international observatory. Some of the observational factors that affect astronomical research include cloud cover, temperature, rain fall, sky-brightness, humidity, wind speed, atmospheric turbulence, aerosol, seismicity, integrated soil and factors related to altitude. Among these factors, the meteorological factor that has been collected from Ethiopian metrological agency around these mountains show the feasible potential of the sites.
 In all these potential sites, living quarters have now been fully completed. Millions of birr worth equipments to conduct the feasibility study is being transported to the nearest town of Mount Abune Yosef and Mount Abohaye gara sites. The third site, Mount Mahe Wadla delayed at least for one year. It is believed by September the two sites, Mount Abune Yosef and Mount Abohaye gara will be functional and all trained personnel from different universities in the area will commence their study and research.

Fig2. Shipping the necessary equipments to the sites

The success of this project so far would have not been possible if it were not be for the region’s government administration, zone and woreda official’s momentous contribution. Even local residents and farmers in all sites have shown a sense of urgency by participating in various activities to see the fruits of this project. What a moving, heartwarming story is that they often cross up to 7 km of the treacherous mountains to see if they can help in any ways.

Fig3. Engineers and Professionals at Telescope resting Site at Mount Aboy gara
ESSS unrelenting effort for the development of space science and technology in the country managed to boost support from corporate sectors as well. MH engineering deserves a special thanks and acknowledgment  for being a major player from day one in assisting the society through advising and providing various engineering services for both Entoto Observatory site and Lalibela project free of charge.

 Fig4. Mr. Tefera Waluwa briefing the local residents

During the visit to the Mount Aboye gara site by engineers and other professional, Mr. Tefera Waluwa, Board chairman of the society remarks “There are also a lot of individuals who dedicate their time and effort, and I think we should recognize and appreciate them. In addition, I believe this kind of gesture motivates the people who are already volunteering, and those who plan to do so." He further added that,” our society is leading by example and intends to promote what volunteer work can bring to a society and solve valuable challenges in our communities and furthermore, can better empower ourselves and others to create political, economic and social change”
ESSS IEC (Information, Education and Communication) Committee
July 22, 2013

African Leadership Conference on Space Science

Ethiopia Participated in African Leadership Conference on Space Science

Fig1. Picture taken during the conference sessions.

Ethiopia participated in the 5^th African Leadership Conference on space science that was held on from December, 3^rd-6^th at Accra, Ghana. Representatives from Ethiopia comprising of Ethiopian Space Science Society Board chairman, Mr. Tefera Waluwa and Dr. Tulu Besha Bedada,head of earth observation at Entoto observatory, together with the Ethiopian Ambassador Gifti Abaseya to Ghana have visited the Ministry of Environment, Science, technology of Ghana and innovation which was facilitated by the Ethiopian Embassy in Accra, on the eve of the African Space science conference.
Discussion between the Ethiopian team and Dr. Musheibu Mohammed Alfa, deputy minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Mr. Eric Aggrey, research scientist at Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute was made based on a questionnaires prepared by the Ethiopian team in the form of interview. In-depth discussion was made on each question.
According to Dr. Tulu Besha Bedada ,”The scientific visit was primarily intended to learn the Ghanaian and other ALC members’ experiences that they practiced in developing space science, technology and innovations including the development of human resource and research capacity.”
Some countries have successfully gone long miles in the development of space science and technology. Ethiopia is now embarked a new road map to the establishment of sustainable space science and technology programme. It might be worth asking to know, how the government of Ghana is committed in the development of Space Science and technological Innovations. Experiences learned from Ghana are believed to help Ethiopia in planning its space program.

fig2. On the right is Ambassador Gifti Abaseya, Middle Mr. Tefera Waluwa, left Dr. Dianna Djirackor

In the report released by the visiting team, it is explicitly stated that, the Ethiopian team learned how does investing in a space program impact on human capacity building, economic growth, social, technological and political benefits. It is believed that, the direct return of space mission is primarily to accelerate the country’s economic growth at a pace that can potentially impact on standard of living and quality of life of every citizen. Equally, as a space program provides sensitive information, investment in a space will help a nation to secure its sovereignty. Another essential benefit that can be reaped from a space program is to bring sustainable and competitive technological advancement and production of highly educated human capacity. The immediate consequence of technological advancement will help the developing nations to upgrade the rate of the industrial manufacturing production rates, and spatial & non-spatial environmental data production rate and quality.
Although, experience is learned on how does investment in a space program benefit human capacity. The consequence of investing on human capacity building in a space program is believed to bring sustainable development in space science, technology and innovation thereby providing economical, social and political benefits. To bring a long term commitment in creating sustainable, competitive and leading researches in space sciences, technology and innovations, critical mass and best brains are needed. Therefore, it can be concluded that, human capacity building is an essential component towards establishing a space program.
The report finally sums up that, besides learning the present space and technological capacity in Africa and the development of draft African space policy that ought to meet the international space policy and law. It is apparent that the present capacity of the ALC members (Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt) in space and technology and their ongoing and near future space science projects. Knowing the capacity of the African leading countries in space science will help Ethiopia to devise its space strategic plans, policy, law and regulations that can potentially interest the ALC members to liaison with the future Ethiopian space program. 

THE FIRST ETHIOPIAN SATELLITE- QB50

ET-SAT IS SET TO BECOME THE FIRST ETHIOPIAN SATELLITE

AAiT-AAU is Pre selected by QB50

It has been mentioned that ET-SAT, a small satellite (CubeSat), is set to become the first satellite by an Ethiopian institution to be designed, constructed & launched to space.
During a meeting held at Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT), of Addis Ababa University (AAU), on August 9, 2012, AAiT’S Deputy Scientific Director and QB-50’S ET-SAT project Principal Investigator (PI), Dr.-Ing. Getahun Mekuria proudly announced that the proposal for ET-SAT has been pre selected by QB50 project office, the Von Karman Institute (VKI), Brussels, Belgium, among 71 proposals from 38 countries. He further stated that ET-SAT is to be designed and constructed by Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT) team with an aim of carrying out lower thermosphere research and to teach youngsters about satellite technology.
 50 CubeSat are to be constructed and launched by universities and institutes all over the world under a project named QB50 and AAiT is the only institute in Africa to be pre-selected up to now.
Dr. Debretsion G/Michael, Minister of Ministry Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), who also attended this historic meeting, hailed the importance of ET-SAT project for the country and firmly assured that the Ministry will support the project in every necessary aspect.

Minister Debretsion G/Michael also stated that “The government has an intention to consider building communication satellite and hence it is necessary to develop a roadmap that charts the various milestones that capture our vision and the current intended project. Furthermore, to bring all stakeholders of this intervention, organizing a workshop would be essential first step.”
On this memorable meeting, Mr. Tefera waluwa, Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS) board chairman, former deputy prime minister and minister of capacity building, expressed his joy by saying “I will be the first to be there and see this project come to a fruitful end. He further stated ” I appreciate the initiation taken by the AAiT QB50 team and the relevance of this  project is beyond its intended scope and we should all make the most of  this opportunity by coordinating our efforts on a broader scale to strengthen our capacity on research and education aspect of such space technology”.
Mr. Tefera also encouraged the QB50 ET- SAT team that the Entoto Space Observatory center is at their service 24 hours and also mentioned that the center will be fully operational once the two scientific Telescopes installed in the coming weeks.
Prof. Young Kyun Kim, Scientific Director of AAIT, who also participated in the meeting, promised to offer his full support for the project and assured that he will work hard to mobilize Korean Universities and other establishments to cooperate with AAiT for the realization of this project and more.
In order to start the construction of ET-SAT, AAiT has to sign a contractual agreement with VKI after ensuring the availability of funding for the project.
QB50 would allow 50 double and triple CubeSats to be constructed by universities and institutions all over the world and to be launched into space all together in the first half of 2015 in a single rocket. All 50 CubeSats will be launched out of Murmansk, situated in the Northern Russia, into a circular orbit at 320 km altitude, inclination 79° around the Earth.
ESSS IEC Committee

Astronomy Addis Ababa, 25 Feburary 2011

East Africa Regional WorkShop of Astronomy Addis Ababa 21 - 25 Feburary 2011

OBJECTIVES

Despite the fact that there is very little astronomy taught in sub-Saharan Africa (outside South Africa), there is a clear interest and growing network of physical science students and lecturers in universities and other educational institutions throughout the region who want to study astronomy as their career. The interest can also be seen in the rapid increase of the number of students from around the continent who apply to the Cape Town-based National Astrophysics and Space Sciences program. However, there is limited capacity in the program to serve these wide interests.
It is, therefore, crucial to start the development of a regional astronomy research and teaching hub in East Africa and establish similar programs of astronomy in the long term and make use of observational facilities in other regions of Africa.
In collaboration with International Astronomical Union (IAU) and South Africa Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS), in line with its long term objectives of developing space science and astronomy in Ethiopia, is hosting the workshop with the following purposes

• Providing participants with the recent developments and knowledge in astronomical sciences
• Providing forum for exchanging ideas, research findings, technology and applications of astronomy for the sustainable development
• Establishing international & regional collaboration in research & teaching with Ethiopian Universities
• Developing a regional astronomy research and teaching hub in East Africa

ACTIVITIES

The workshop includes a compact lecture series covering basic astronomy to help participants teach and develop undergraduate astronomy courses, or to start/continue with further astrophysics studies. The workshop will introduce modern astronomical observational techniques, data reduction and analysis skills, as well as introducing tools to plan observing programs. The observational astronomy aspect of the workshop is also intended to feed into future more advanced modern astronomical techniques. Finally, the time will be used for networking and developing future plans for astronomy in East Africa
VENUE: COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES
ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY
ORGANZERS: ESSS; AAU; SAAO; IAU
THEME: DEVELOPING REGIONAL ASTRONOMY RESEARCH & TEACHING HUB IN EAST AFRICA

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

I. INTERNATIONAL

Dr Petri Vaisanen (SAAO) - Chairman
Dr David Buckley (SAAO)
Mr Kevin Govender (SAAO)
Dr Solomon Belay (ESSS & KCTE)
Prof Gezahegn Yirgu (ESSS &AAU)
Dr Paul Baki (Nairobi University)
Dr Edward Jurua
(Mbarara University of Science & Technology)
Mr Pheneas Nkundabakura (UFS)
Mr Abiy Tekola (SAAO, UCT)

II.LOCAL

Dr Solomon Belay
(ESSS and KCTE) – Chairman
Dr Lemi Demeyou ( AAU)
Dr Gizaw Mengistu ( AAU)
Prof Gezahegn Yirgu (ESSS & AAU)
Mr Tolu Biressa
(ESSS & Jimma University)
Mr Alemiye Mamo
(ESSS & Hawassa University)
Mr Getinet Feleke (ESSS & KCTE)
Contact Information Tel: +251 116 553417 E-mail: esss@ethiosss.org.et Website: www.ethiosss.org.et