The project is designed to facilitate the launch of a pan-African satellite project named the African Development Satellite Initiative (AfDev-Sat) and the participants took courses in space project management, space sub-system design, CAD tools and design software orientation, satellite testing, among others at EgSA.
The primary focus of this project is hands-on training. The first phase covers the theoretical aspects, including lectures on satellites and their composition and the second part covers the hands-on training. The engineers were trained at the EgSA facility- with state of the art laboratories, equipment and devices needed to develop mechanical parts, electrical boards, software for the satellite and carry out various simulations. They would also build and assemble a cubesat.
The trainees participated in many technical sessions, particularly related to simulations of satellite systems [such as orbital simulation], mission analysis and mission designs for satellites. The knowledge gained from this programme is to be applied to their home countries and be able to build dedicated satellite subsystems that can ultimately be integrated into each other to engineer a complete satellite.