Opportunities
Programmes built so that Africans can take part.
Most of these are free, and most of the people who qualify have never heard of them. Deadlines move every year, so each entry links to the source rather than a date we would have to keep current by hand.
Flight opportunity
KiboCUBE
For: Universities and research institutions in developing countries
Free deployment of a 1U CubeSat from the ISS Kibo module. The programme carrying TanSat-1; Kenya, Mauritius, Guatemala and Moldova flew their first satellites through it.
When: Annual rounds. The 9th round closed 31 December 2025; watch for the next call.
Official pageDropTES
For: University student teams
Microgravity experiments in the Bremen Drop Tower. A realistic first flight-hardware project for an engineering department.
When: Annual call, usually mid-year.
Official pageHyperGES
For: Student teams from developing countries
Hypergravity experiments on ESA's Large Diameter Centrifuge in the Netherlands.
When: Annual call.
Official pageFellowship
PNST — Postgraduate study on Nano-Satellite Technologies
For: Graduates from developing countries, Master's and PhD
Fully funded postgraduate study in nanosatellite engineering at Kyutech, with hands-on satellite development. Many African CubeSat engineers came through this route.
When: Annual call, typically closing early in the year.
Official pageIAF Emerging Space Leaders Grant
For: Students and young professionals aged 21–35
Funded participation in the International Astronautical Congress, the largest gathering in the space sector.
When: Annual call, early in the year.
Official pageNetwork
Space Generation Advisory Council
For: Students and young professionals aged 18–35
Free membership, project groups, scholarships to global and regional events, and National Points of Contact per country. Tanzania has open NPoC seats.
When: Membership open year-round; scholarships and NPoC calls through the year.
Official pageTanSat-1 consortium universities
For: Tanzanian students at the consortium universities
The seven institutions building Tanzania's first satellite. If you study at one of them, the closest route into the national programme is through your own engineering or ICT department.
When: Ask your department.
Read moreData & services
GMES & Africa
For: African institutions and consortia delivering Earth-observation services
Funds regional consortia delivering Earth-observation services for water, natural resources, marine and coastal areas. Calls go to institutions, not individuals.
When: Phased calls; follow the AUC announcements.
Official pageDigital Earth Africa
For: Anyone — analysts, students, agencies
Free analysis-ready satellite data for the whole continent, a sandbox to run analyses without installing anything, and free training. The fastest way to start doing Earth observation today.
When: Always open.
Official pageEvent
NewSpace Africa Conference
For: African space industry, agencies, students
The continent's largest commercial space conference, rotating between African capitals. Space in Africa also publishes the most complete news and data on African space.
When: Annual, usually April.
Official pageDeadline alerts
We send one email when a call opens, with enough time to apply. Application clinics for Tanzanian applicants are announced the same way.