Boeing and the Future African Space Explorers STEM Academy (FASESA) celebrated the graduation of 2,626 high school students across Africa from the third edition of the ‘Pathways to Space’ program on August 7.
Why it matters: The program helps build a pipeline of young aerospace talent as Africa’s space sector grows rapidly and more countries expand their Earth‑observation, remote sensing, communications and satellite services.
How it worked: In 2026, the program reached students in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and for the first time South Africa.
The five-month curriculum covered basic principles of astronautics, systems engineering, human factors and materials science.
Students prototyped their own spacesuit concepts and tested problem-solving engineering approaches tied to industry needs.
They also conducted a high-altitude balloon mission that helped understand a core concept of payload design and strengthen data-analysis skills.
Virtual sessions with former astronauts and space professionals from NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Final Frontier Design and leading universities added career guidance.
Student voice: Angel Nduvho Tambani, a 16‑year‑old student from Dzata Secondary School in South Africa, said: “Pathways to Space has been an inspiring experience. It deepened my understanding of space science and engineering while developing my teamwork, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. The program has strengthened my confidence and inspired me to dream bigger, showing that young people from any background can pursue careers in science and technology.”
Boeing voice: Henok Teferra Shawl, Boeing managing director for Africa, said: “By pairing students across the continent with distinguished industry mentors and real aerospace engineering challenges, we are helping build a homegrown talent pipeline that will power Africa’s contributions to the global space economy for decades to come.”
FASESA voice: Sean Jacobs, FASESA managing director, added: “The program is already producing remarkable success stories. One of our learners was selected to participate in Mission ShakthiSAT, an inspiring international all‑women‑led lunar mission, while another designed a parabolic‑grid radio telescope — demonstrating the innovation, technical excellence, and problem‑solving capabilities the program is cultivating across Africa”.
Big picture: Since its 2024 launch, ‘Pathways to Space’ has empowered almost 3,500 students in Africa. More than 58,500 people have participated in all Boeing-sponsored STEM and workforce development programs across the continent over the last five years.
By Evgeniia Teterina