Ethiopia and Russia marked the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic first human spaceflight with a ceremony in Addis Ababa that also highlighted growing cooperation on satellite technology and space science.
The event, held on April 15 by the Russian Embassy in partnership with the Ethiopian Space Science and Geospatial Institute, included the laying of flowers at a bust of Gagarin. Officials said the commemoration honored the legacy of the Soviet cosmonaut and the wider spirit of human space exploration.
Russian Ambassador Evgeny Terekhin said Gagarin’s 1961 flight continues to inspire new generations and reflects the courage of those who have pushed the boundaries of space science. He also said Russia remains committed to expanding cooperation with Ethiopia in space-related fields.
Terekhin said Moscow sees room for deeper collaboration with Addis Ababa through multilateral formats, including work between Roscosmos and the Ethiopian Space Science and Geospatial Institute. He added that Russia’s advances in space technology are intended not only to support domestic development, but also to strengthen ties with friendly countries, including Ethiopia.
Abdisa Yilma, director general of the Ethiopian institute, said discussions with Roscosmos are ongoing and stressed that Ethiopia’s main priority is to establish a local Satellite Assembly, Integration and Testing center with Russian support. He said such a facility would allow Ethiopian engineers to assemble and verify satellites at home rather than sending them abroad for technical work.
Ethiopia has already entered the space sector with the launch of its first satellite, ETRSS-1, in 2019. Officials say the next phase will focus on building domestic capacity, expanding technical expertise and moving from satellite use to satellite production.
The proposed center is expected to support Ethiopia’s broader ambition to become a regional hub for aerospace technology over the next decade. Officials say it could also reduce foreign currency spending and provide services in crop monitoring, disaster prevention, climate data and communications.
The event also featured a recorded message from Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station, adding a symbolic link between the anniversary celebration and Ethiopia’s emerging space ambitions.
