NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya is set to mark a major milestone in space science after the Kenya Space Agency announced the upcoming launch of the Climate Camera (ClimCam) payload to the International Space Station.
The payload is scheduled for launch on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 3:51 p.m. Eastern Time aboard the Cygnus NG-24 mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The ClimCam payload was developed through a collaboration between the Egypt Space Agency, the Kenya Space Agency, and the Uganda National Space Programme. It will be hosted on the Airbus Bartolomeo platform attached to the European Columbus module on the International Space Station during its time in orbit.
According to the launch brief, the payload successfully underwent assembly, integration, and testing at Egypt Space Agency facilities in Cairo before end-to-end validation at Airbus facilities in Houston, Texas, qualifying it for space operations.
The Climate Camera is designed to deliver AI-powered, near real-time weather and climate data aimed at strengthening disaster management, natural resource monitoring and climate resilience across the Eastern Africa region.
The multinational consortium secured the mission after responding to an Announcement of Opportunity issued by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space under the UNOOSA Access to Space for All initiative.
Launch Details
- Launch Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
- Time: 3:51 PM Kenya Time (EAT)
- Mission: Cygnus NG-24 to the International Space Station
- Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9
- Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Officials said the mission is expected to enhance regional climate monitoring capabilities and support decision-making for agriculture, disaster response, and environmental management across East Africa.
