Recent Activity
Jan 2023 MoU signed; ground-breaking and detailed engineering still pending as of mid-2026; multiple Western governments have expressed concern over PRC-linked sponsor.
Investor Brief
If realized, would be Africa's first orbital site and a near-equatorial alternative to Kourou for commercial operators outside the ESA/Arianespace orbit. Speculative until ground is broken and political risks resolve.
Ownership
Parent Entity
Capex
Regulatory Regime
Latitude Advantage
Launch Azimuth Range
Country
🇩🇯Djibouti
Region
Africa
Established
2,023
Launches / Year
0
Years Active
3
Strategic Position
11.9600° N, 43.2837° E
Azimuth: ~70°-110° eastward (overwater across Gulf of Aden / Indian Ocean) achievable
11.96°N — strong GEO bonus (~13% extra payload vs. Cape Canaveral 28.5°N) and only marginally inferior to Kourou's 5.2°N
Future Milestones
- 2027
First major construction milestone (target per 2023 MoU)
- 2029
Targeted first orbital launch attempt (subject to slip)
About
Djibouti and Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group (HKATG) signed a memorandum of understanding in January 2023 to develop a $1B+ commercial spaceport on the Obock peninsula in northern Djibouti. The near-equatorial location (~12°N) offers a significant GEO injection bonus over higher-latitude sites and a clear eastward overwater trajectory across the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. If realized on schedule, the site would become continental Africa's first orbital launch facility (San Marco was offshore Kenya but operated by Italy). The project faces political headwinds: the United States, France, and other powers operating military bases in Djibouti have expressed concern over the PRC-linked sponsor entity, and HKATG's commercial track record on the launch vehicle side is unproven.
Key Features
Near-equatorial location at ~12°N — significant GEO injection bonus
Clear eastward overwater trajectory across the Gulf of Aden
Would be the first orbital spaceport on the African continent (San Marco was offshore Kenya)
$1B+ MoU signed January 2023 between HKATG and Government of Djibouti
Geopolitical sensitivity due to PRC/Hong Kong-linked sponsor in a country hosting US, French, Chinese, and Japanese military bases
Rockets That Launch Here
Companies Operating Here
Orbit Types
Notable Launches
No launches to date — site is pre-operational
First launch target: late 2020s (per Jan 2023 MoU announcement)