https://www.engineeringnews.co.za
Africa|Cement|Construction|Cutting|Electrical|Engineering|Innovation|Systems|Technology|Training
Africa|Cement|Construction|Cutting|Electrical|Engineering|Innovation|Systems|Technology|Training
africa|cement|construction|cutting|electrical|engineering|innovation|systems|technology|training

SpaceX to launch South African-made nanosatellites

13th January 2022

By: Schalk Burger

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

Font size: - +

Three locally produced nanosatellites for the Maritime Domain Awareness Satellite constellation (MDASat-1) will be launched into space on the evening of January 13 as part of US aerospace company SpaceX's Transporter-3 mission.

South Africa's satellites will be launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, as a rideshare payload of the company's Transporter-3, or ISI Launch 36P, mission, and will be deployed in low Earth orbit at an altitude of 525 km.

The MDASat-1 launch is a significant milestone for South Africa, marking the first launch of a satellite constellation developed entirely on the African continent. The full MDASat constellation will be an operational constellation of nine cube satellites that will detect, identify and monitor vessels in near real-time in support of South African maritime domain awareness.

Transporter-3, SpaceX's third dedicated rideshare mission, will be carrying 105 spacecraft, including cube satellites (CubeSats), microsats, PocketQubes and orbital transfer vehicles.

The launch is scheduled to take place from Cape Canaveral, in the US, on January 13 at 17:25 South African time. The launch can be viewed on the SpaceX website at www.spacex.com/launches. The webcast starts 10 to 15 minutes before lift-off.

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) has invested R27-million over three years in the development of the MDASat constellation. The DSI is implementing this work through the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), says Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande.

The DSI's funding and support of South Africa's satellite construction industry was reaping rewards. The launch of the first three satellites of the MDASat constellation follows three years after the launch of the most advanced South African nanosatellite to date, the ZACube‑2, as a technology demonstrator for the MDASat constellation.

"Since its launch in 2018, ZACube-2 has been providing cutting-edge very high frequency data exchange communication systems to the country's maritime industry, as a contribution to Operation Phakisa. This will further cement South Africa's position as an African leader in small satellite development, and help the country to capture a valuable share of a niche market in the fast-growing global satellite value chain," he says.

Although South Africa has been involved in space activities since 1957 on a relatively small scale, the national space industry requires specialised skills.

Nzimande says the lack of space professionals and engineers had prompted the DSI and the National Research Foundation to initiate a human capital development programme at CPUT under the French South African Institute of Technology CubeSat programme, with the introduction of a Master's in Electrical Engineering focusing on satellite systems.

"As part of this programme, students are taught engineering principles using CubeSats as training tools," Nzimande adds.

"CubeSats are built using the same engineering principles as any other satellite, hence highly specialised and advanced skills are acquired through this programme."

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

Hanna Instruments Image
Hanna Instruments (Pty) Ltd

We supply customers with practical affordable solutions for their testing needs. Our products include benchtop, portable, in-line process control...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Alco-Safe
Alco-Safe

An unmanned breathalyser that is made to be tough and simple to use. Can be used in any environment for operator-free breathalyser testing.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.119 0.168s - 159pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now