From the Ground Up: How the ESSS and Entoto Observatory Reshaped Ethiopian Space Policy

The Entoto Observatory and Space Science Research Center (EORC) stands as a testament to one of the most unique scientific development models in the world. Unlike most national space programs that begin with a government mandate, Ethiopia's journey to the stars began with a civic society taking the lead.Here is an analysis of why the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS) built the observatory and how their "bottom-up" strategy successfully reshaped national policy.1. Why the ESSS Built the Entoto ObservatoryThe Entoto Observatory was not originally a government project. It was conceived and constructed by the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS), a non-profit civic organization established in 2004 by 47 founding members—a group initially dubbed "The Crazy People’s Club" for proposing sp...