The South African National Space Agency (Sansa) on Friday inaugurated a new Ku-band In Orbit Test (IOT) limited-motion antenna – the latest addition to its growing number of technologically advanced antennae – at its Space Operations facility, in Hartbeesthoek, near Brits.

The new R17-million facility, internally funded by Sansa, comprised a 10 m Ku-direct broadcast satellite band antenna and an equipment room fitted with IOT equipment and infrastructure to assist clients in successfully commissioning new satellites.

The new Ku-IOT antenna was built in response to the growing demand by satellite owners for ground facilities that are essential to test the in-orbit communications performance of new geostationary satellites, Sansa chief engineer Eugene Avenant told Engineering News Online.

Sansa pointed out that South Africa was in an ideal position to assist satellite operators in the qualification and commissioning of their new satellites, as the country had a relatively radio-quiet environment and a good geographic position.

Speaking at the inauguration event, Department of Science and Technology (DST) director-general Dr Phil Mjwara said, “space is big business around the world and South Africa needs to seize the opportunities we have to capitalise on the global market”.

The newly built antenna had a Ku-band up and downlink, as well as direct broadcast satellite band uplink capability. Uplink performance was specified at an effective isotropic radiated power of 85 dBW and downlink performance at better than 35 dB/K.

Civil construction on the Ku-IOT antenna started in January this year, with final testing having been completed during July and August, Avenant added.

“The antenna has already been qualified with client equipment and the first campaign will start in November,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sansa was also undertaking the construction of South Africa’s third satellite, EO-SAT1.

To date, R372-million in funding had been secured for this project, with the total project value, excluding the launch, expected to amount to R450-million. The launch would cost another R200-million, Sansa acting space programme manager Shravan Singh said.

The construction of the satellite, which would be launched in about four years’ time, was being funded by the DST.

“The EO-SAT1 will be different from the previous two satellites, as it will have real applications and its data will be used on an ongoing basis, while the previous two satellites were test satellites,” he told Engineering News Online.

The new satellite would mainly be used to take high-resolution pictures of the African continent and was of importance as it makes the African continent independent from the rest of the world with regard to procuring this information, he added.

“This satellite will also give us the ability to focus on specific areas of Africa as needed,” he said.

Meanwhile, also speaking at the inauguration event, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Dr Woodrow Whitlow stated that space exploration was one of the most profitable and meaningful endeavours conducted on earth.

“What we do in space, benefits us on earth and, as we continue to explore and dedicate this antenna, we will see even more benefits,” he said.