Review and comparison of three emerging regional space agencies: the African Space Agency, the Arab Space Coordination Group, and the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency

Abstract

Groups of nations with aligned strategic interests on Earth are joining forces to bolster their interests in space. In particular, within the last six years three new regional space agencies have been formed in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. These are the African Space Agency (AfSA), the Arab Space Coordination Group (ASCG), and the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE). In this study, a regional space agency is defined as an organisation with actor quality established between multiple national governments, underpinned by legal instruments, to promote cooperation across the full spectrum of space sector activities, with participation from most countries within an extended geographical area. This paper provides the first comprehensive review and comparison of the AfSA, ASCG, and ALCE, at a time when all three agencies are still in their infancy and being operationalised. Their history, current status, and future prospects are charted, drawing upon diverse media including in local languages. The European Space Agency (ESA), the oldest regional space agency, is included as a reference point. The study is expected to be useful for local policymakers as well as those in other regions considering the creation of a regional space agency, such as Southeast Asia.