Space in Africa maps what size of satellite African manufacturers can build

Space in Africa, the market research and analysis firm, has published an analysis of the continent's satellite supply chain, working through it subsystem by subsystem. Its aim is to establish what African manufacturers can currently supply, and so the largest satellite the continent could build.

The piece, published on 2 November 2026, points to two South African examples. One firm can produce 320 reaction wheels a month, a sign of volume capacity in attitude-control hardware. Another company has built and flown a 177 kg satellite, which indicates that platforms well above CubeSat size have been delivered from the continent.

Why it matters: Knowing which satellite subsystems and platform sizes can be sourced on the continent informs procurement for Earth observation missions and local-content planning. South African firms stand out in the examples cited.