Tangier: On the occasion of the release of ‘Drawing from Above’, a collective work published by the association Je m’engage pour l’Afrique, Iliass Tanouti, aerospace engineer and vice-president at Constellr, shares his vision of the African space industry as a catalyst for sustainable development. Born in Tangier in 1997, Iliass Tanouti is a pioneer in the African space industry. With degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Manchester and Interdisciplinary Space Studies from the International Space University, Iliass quickly rose through the ranks, from engineering internships at Thales Alenia Space to management positions at Constellr, a company specializing in space thermal data for agriculture and the environment. In 2020, he was named one of the Top 10 Young Africans Under 30 in the Space Sector, a distinction that is a testament to his commitment to the continent.

According to Africa News Agency, Iliass has been a strong advocate for public policy in Africa. He has collaborated with the
Space Generation Advisory Council and served as an ambassador for the International Space University, strengthening ties between African stakeholders and major space organizations. ‘My dream is to see Africa fully exploit space technologies to solve pressing challenges such as food security and access to water resources,’ he says.