Italy has announced plans to resume rocket launches from the Luigi Broglio Space Center near Malindi, Kenya, decades after the last launch in 1988.
The space center, constructed by Italy in the 1960s, initially included both ground services and launch capabilities via the offshore San Marco platform. Its first orbital launch occurred in April 1967, when a Scout B rocket carried the San Marco-2 satellite into low Earth orbit. The facility’s launch operations ceased following its final mission in March 1988, though it has continued to support other space activities.
Reviving the launch program is part of Italy’s Mattei Plan, an initiative to strengthen economic ties with Africa by investing in infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable development. Italian Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, confirmed the decision in October 2024, highlighting plans to use the base for deploying low-orbit microsatellites.
The move also aligns with Kenya’s growing space ambitions. The country established a national space agency in 2017 and is finalizing the Kenya Space Bill 2024, which outlines regulations for managing and approving launch sites. This renewed collaboration positions the Luigi Broglio Space Center as a pivotal hub for Italy’s space program while fostering partnerships with Kenya.
