Space Entrepreneurs Interview Series – Susan Murabana

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Susan Murabana’s story begins with a moment of awe – a glimpse of Saturn and the Moon through a telescope – kindling a passion that would redefine her life’s trajectory. Her venture, The Travelling Telescope, embodies the essence of space entrepreneurship, blending education, tourism, and community engagement into a unique model. This initiative not only brings the wonders of the universe closer to people of all ages but also stands as a testament to the power of innovative thinking in the space sector.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the space industry?

I was inspired into the space industry when I first looked into a telescope and saw Saturn and the Moon. I wanted to share the experience with friends and family but most importantly with young children in my country. I decided to set up The Travelling Telescope with my partner and husband and we have run it for almost 10 years. With our social enterprise we take our portable telescope and planetarium around schools and communities sharing the joys and wonders of the Universe. To make it a sustainable business we offer astro-tourism trips – our “Star Safari” – to local and international tourists. We have also built the only bamboo planetarium in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.

Can you share an example of a successful space entrepreneurship project you have been a part of ?

The Travelling Telescope has become one example of a successful space entrepreneurship project. We use our proceeds from tourism to remain sustainable, and also use a part of it to fund our education arm working with underserved schools and rural communities.

How do you think the space industry can leverage World Space Week to foster a spirit of innovation and collaboration among entrepreneurs?

By highlighting the benefits of space exploration and earth observation with the local communities like farmers it demonstrates how useful the space sector is to mitigate some of the biggest problems of our planet.

Space Entrepreneurs Interview Series – Susan Murabana

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