MALINDI, Kenya – Students from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) have visited the Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Centre for a practical look at the technology and operations behind satellite tracking, telemetry and command services.
The industrial visit, held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, gave the students an opportunity to explore the facility, which is operated through cooperation between the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
The delegation was received by Dr Sara Rossi, the ASI manager in charge of the base, alongside the Kenya Space Agency’s on-site team.
The visit formed part of efforts to expose university students to the specialised systems and technical expertise used in space operations, beyond what they encounter in classrooms and laboratories.
Inside the Malindi Space Centre
During the tour, the students visited the centre’s Space Museum, where exhibits illustrated the development of space technology, innovation and the miniaturisation of electronic systems.
They also toured the Operations and Control Area, gaining first-hand insight into Tracking, Telemetry and Command (TT&C) services.
These services are central to communicating with and tracking spacecraft, receiving telemetry data and supporting satellite operations. The Malindi facility serves as an important ground station in international space cooperation because of its strategic location near the equator.
The exposure offered students a closer look at how specialised equipment and ground-based infrastructure support space missions.
Building Kenya’s Future Space Workforce
The visit highlights the role of practical training and industry engagement in preparing students for careers in engineering, electronics, satellite communications and other space-related fields.
The Kenya Space Agency has previously hosted university groups at the Malindi centre, including engineering students from the University of Nairobi in July 2025. That visit also included tours of the Operations and Control Centres and the Space Museum.
The facility’s educational role is part of a broader Kenya-Italy partnership covering satellite operations, Earth observation, technical capacity-building and the development of local expertise.
For DeKUT students, the latest visit provided an opportunity to connect academic knowledge with the practical systems used in a working space facility.
The Kenya Space Agency says such engagements support the development of future space professionals and contribute to strengthening Kenya’s participation in the global space sector.
