563 - The Afronauts, Zambia's Space Program
Summary
Hosts Dave Warnieke, Matt Stewart, and Jess Perkins discuss the bizarre history of Edward Makuka Nicoloso, a Zambian independence fighter who claimed to lead a national space program. Nicoloso promised to beat the US and USSR by sending "Afronauts" and trained cats to Mars using a drum-shaped rocket launched via catapult. The episode covers his colonial resistance, self-appointed title as Director General of Space, and his failed attempts to secure funding from UNESCO and global powers.
Topics discussed
Introduction and show format explanation
Trivia question about African countries
History of colonialism in Zambia and Rhodesia
Edward Makuka Nicoloso and the independence movement
The Zambian Space Program and Afronauts
Training methods and the proposed rocket design
The program's failure and Nicoloso's legacy
Patreon shout-outs and listener stories
Triple Trip Ditch Club induction and closing
Listen ad-free on Castria