The Farmyard Launch Site
In 1960s Zambia, science teacher and ex-sergeant Edward Nkoloso declared the country’s entry into the space race. He founded the Zambia National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy, intending to beat the U.S. and USSR to the Moon—with a teenager, two cats, and a missionary aboard.
Training Afronauts
On a farm near Lusaka, Nkoloso trained his “Afronauts” by rolling them downhill in oil drums and swinging them from trees to simulate weightlessness. He claimed their rocket, made of copper and aluminium, would be launched from Independence Stadium on 24 October 1964.
Sabotage and Setbacks
The launch never happened. Astronaut Matha Mwambwa became pregnant and left the program. Nkoloso blamed foreign sabotage, low morale, and lack of funds. A request to UNESCO for £7 million never materialized. The Zambian government distanced itself from the effort.
Remembering the Dream
Nkoloso later earned a law degree and received military honors before dying in 1989. His story inspired art and film, and his coined term “Afronauts” lives on—recalling an ambitious, eccentric chapter of space race history from post-independence Zambia.
In 1960s Zambia, Edward Nkoloso, a teacher and ex-soldier, launched a space program with a bold aim: to send a girl, two cats, and a missionary to the Moon before the U.S. or USSR.
On a farm near Lusaka, he trained 'Afronauts' using oil drums and rope swings…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/Zxenv7b5TX
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) May 7, 2025