- Former NASA Deputy Chief Technologist Jim Adams urged African governments to prioritize satellite applications, data services and skills before investing in launch capabilities.
- Adams said African countries should use foreign satellite procurement as a technology transfer strategy rather than a source of long-term dependence.
- He argued that space investment delivers long-term economic returns through better public services, innovation and industrial development, despite competing budget priorities.
After 25 years at NASA, where he oversaw more than 30 missions and managed an annual budget of roughly $1.5 billion in the agency's Planetary Science Division, W. James "Jim" Adams believes Africa should pursue a pragmatic path into the global space economy.
Speaking at the second Space Forum Africa, held in Lomé in late July, the former NASA Deputy Chief Technologist advised African governments against replicating the U.S. contracting model or rushing into costly launch infrastructure. Instead, he urged policymakers to build domestic capabilities gradually while leveraging international partnerships.
Ecofin Agency: You managed an annual budget of about $1.5 billion at NASA's Planetary Science Division. For decades, the U.S. government acted as the anchor customer for private aerospace suppliers. What did that predictable demand enable, and can African governments replicate that model?
Jim Adams: Predictable government demand allowed private companies to invest in specialized equipment, facilities and skilled personnel that they would never have financed on the basis of commercial demand alone because the risks were too high.
The problem emerged later. Once that model became established, it became difficult to move away from cost-plus contracts, under which governments reimburse suppliers for their actual costs regardless of the final amount. That arrangement shifts almost all the risk onto the public sector.
Over time, both sides developed habits that reduced efficiency. Government agencies insisted on meeting every technical specification regardless of cost or schedule, while contractors knew they would recover their expenses. The result was cost overruns, program delays and weaker innovation.
African governments could adopt a similar approach on a smaller scale. However, they would be better served by designing procurement models that deliberately share risk between governments and suppliers instead of copying a system whose costs and limitations are already well understood.
"I would not tell Africa to abandon launch capabilities. I would simply place them in the second phase."
EA: Which segments of the space value chain offer Africa genuine competitive advantages, and which areas should the continent postpone?
JJA: Africa already possesses strengths across several segments of the value chain. Those strengths include satellite telecommunications, manufacturing capabilities, skilled workers, data analytics and considerable engineering creativity.
The challenge now lies in entering the ecosystem deliberately and systematically so those capabilities can expand and create economic value.
I would not advise Africa to abandon launch activities. I would simply move them into a second phase. Launch vehicles and launch sites require advanced technology, substantial capital and very little margin for error.
Africa should first consolidate its existing strengths before investing in those capabilities.
"The mistake would be trying to do everything at once or trying to do everything alone."
EA: Togo has no national satellite and only a limited space budget. What represents the most economically sensible first investment?
JJA: A country like Togo should combine a small number of CubeSats with a basic ground station. That approach delivers rapid and measurable results because the country operates satellites and receives its own data.
Governments can then use those data immediately to demonstrate tangible public benefits. The mistake would be attempting every segment simultaneously or trying to build the ecosystem without international partners.
Space remains a technically demanding industry. Thousands of experienced professionals around the world stand ready to help, provided governments seek their support.
EA: You worked on Landsat, Aura and Earth observation programs. What do those data reveal about Africa that African countries have yet to exploit?
JJA: Earth observation technologies continue to evolve rapidly. Governments have not yet fully appreciated how those data can improve public decision-making.
Reliable weather forecasting, climate analysis and assessments of natural resources and infrastructure all represent areas where Africa would benefit from deeper participation in the global space ecosystem.
African governments also have no reason to wait until they own their own Earth observation constellations.
Existing international datasets already remain available. Those data may not perfectly match every local need, but they already support better public decisions.
"There is no reason to wait."
EA: African governments will spend about $828 million on public space programs in 2026, and Morocco's satellite procurement represents the continent's largest single contract. Does buying foreign technology build an industry or create dependence?
JJA: Buying foreign technology can become a powerful development tool rather than a source of dependence if governments treat procurement as a learning strategy.
Japan followed exactly that approach in the late 1970s. The country purchased U.S.-built satellites while placing Japanese engineers inside suppliers' design reviews so they could acquire technical expertise.
Japan later shifted toward purchasing satellite kits, allowing domestic engineers to perform assembly, integration and testing. Eventually, Japan acquired the knowledge needed to become independent.
SpaceX adopted a similar strategy during its early years. The company outsourced capabilities it had not yet mastered to meet deadlines before bringing those activities in-house as quickly as possible. That strategy reduced costs while preserving control over quality and technological development.
African space programs can adapt the same approach by converting foreign procurement into lasting industrial capability.
EA: How would you justify space spending to an African finance minister facing competing priorities such as health and education?
JJA: I would tell that minister that Africa cannot afford to ignore the opportunities created by the space industry. Governments can begin modestly by relying on the creativity and expertise that already exist across the continent.
That means building national space strategies around commercial participation, evaluating private-sector solutions seriously and launching prize competitions to solve practical challenges such as mapping urban expansion from space.
Governments should also use space programs to encourage young people to pursue science and engineering careers.
Space represents a long-term investment that often requires a decade or more. However, every country that has maintained sustained investment has ultimately generated economic returns that exceeded its initial spending when policymakers measured the broader economic benefits rather than immediate financial profit alone.
Interview by Fiacre E. Kakpo