According to a note from the Office of the National Space Program (GGPEN), published on its official website, the engineer was chosen by a "select body of jurors, among dozens of representatives from fifteen countries."
According to the GGPEN "inclusion and diversity are at the heart of the award, by providing opportunity for young people under the age of 30."
The award, called "Top 10 Under-30 Africa," was launched in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. The award, organized by Nigerian space scientist and founder of Space in Africa, Temidayo Isaiah Oniosun, aims to recognize "engineers, scientists, business developers, researchers, policy advocates and academics from Africa who have contributed, even in a small way, not only to the development of their country's space industry, but also to expanding knowledge in Africa's growing space sector."
Quoted in the note, the Nigerian space scientist emphasizes that "while the industry has many important pioneers, in recent times, the space industry in Africa" has been enjoying "significant contributions from young innovators, engineers, entrepreneurs, professors and enthusiasts from other parts of the industry."
Who is Atanilson Tucker Cachinjumba?
Atanilson Tucker Cachinjumba is an aerospace engineer. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.
The young man adds the note, "also graduated from the African Drone and Data Academy, a UNICEF-sponsored academy operated by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the US, and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Malawi."
According to GGPEN, the engineer has already participated in flight lab courses and SADC capacity building activities. He also has experience with image processing and GIS from having attended a course offered by Thales Alenia Space.
In 2019 he joined GGPEN, working in the Department of Space Science and Applied Research, which essentially analyzes Earth Observation Satellites and their application.
The Angolan has also been part of some initiatives, including "the application of GIS and remote sensing to help reduce the effect of drought in Angola, through the creation of a drought severity map, GIS website and early warning system."
Last year, he "joined the space applications department, pioneering the Earth Observation System (SOT) project in Angola.
Meet all the winners here.
