Africa has been slow to embark on space travel. But new projects on the continent look promising. South Africa's ambitious Square Kilometer Array project aims to build the world's biggest radio telescope that will help scientists paint a detailed picture of some of the deepest reaches of outer space. <br /><br />Pictured here: a composite image of the MeerKAT and Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) satellites.
Africa has been slow to embark on space travel. But new projects on the continent look promising. South Africa's ambitious Square Kilometer Array project aims to build the world's biggest radio telescope that will help scientists paint a detailed picture of some of the deepest reaches of outer space.

Pictured here: a composite image of the MeerKAT and Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) satellites.
Courtesy SKA
South Africa's Karoo desert will be home to the Square Kilometer Array, a cluster of 3,000 satellite dishes working in tandem over a square kilometer area.
South Africa's Karoo desert will be home to the Square Kilometer Array, a cluster of 3,000 satellite dishes working in tandem over a square kilometer area.
Courtesy of SPDO/Swinburne Astronomy Productions
The SKA is an international affair. Its headquartered in the UK while the telescope itself has a "dual site" location in Australia and South Africa. <br /><br />Africa's participation in the project will be ramped up by distant stations situated in Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia.
The SKA is an international affair. Its headquartered in the UK while the telescope itself has a "dual site" location in Australia and South Africa.

Africa's participation in the project will be ramped up by distant stations situated in Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia.
Courtesy SKA
Scientists hope the project will shed further light on the mysteries posed by the likes of quasars, dark matter and black holes.
Scientists hope the project will shed further light on the mysteries posed by the likes of quasars, dark matter and black holes.
Courtesy of SPDO/Swinburne Astronomy Productions
Pictured here: the first light images from the MeerKAT. The telescope array currently comprises of 16 dishes that will eventually become a part of the Square Kilometre Array.
Pictured here: the first light images from the MeerKAT. The telescope array currently comprises of 16 dishes that will eventually become a part of the Square Kilometre Array.
SKA Africa
MeerKAT's First Light image. Each white dot represents the intensity of radio waves recorded with 16 dishes of the MeerKAT telescope in the Karoo desert. <br /><br />More than 1,300 individual objects - galaxies in the distant universe - are seen in this image.
MeerKAT's First Light image. Each white dot represents the intensity of radio waves recorded with 16 dishes of the MeerKAT telescope in the Karoo desert.

More than 1,300 individual objects - galaxies in the distant universe - are seen in this image.
SKA Africa
The Nigerian government has announced its plans to launch an astronaut into space by 2030, as part of an ambitious space program. <br /><br />Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
The Nigerian government has announced its plans to launch an astronaut into space by 2030, as part of an ambitious space program.

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Nigeria has already launched five satellites into space. The first - NigeriaSat-1 - was launched on a Kosmos-3M rocket from Russia's Plesetsk spaceport in 2003.
Nigeria has already launched five satellites into space. The first - NigeriaSat-1 - was launched on a Kosmos-3M rocket from Russia's Plesetsk spaceport in 2003.
SSTL
The Nigerian space agency claims to have trained 300 staff to PhD or BsC level, and has ambitious plans to expand the industry, and encourage space programs across the continent.
The Nigerian space agency claims to have trained 300 staff to PhD or BsC level, and has ambitious plans to expand the industry, and encourage space programs across the continent.
SSTL
Ghana has established a new space center as part of the country's embrace of advanced technology industries.
Ghana has established a new space center as part of the country's embrace of advanced technology industries.
GSSTC
Egypt has one of the continent's oldest space programs, having launched several satellites aboard Russian rockets.
Egypt has one of the continent's oldest space programs, having launched several satellites aboard Russian rockets.
AFP/Getty Images