Stellenbosch University (SU) has highlighted the role of its Electronics Systems Laboratory (ESL) in the groundbreaking Africa2Moon space mission, which would form part of China’s Chang’e-8 robotic lunar probe, set to launch in 2029. The South African-led Africa2Moon was the first all-African space exploration mission, and was selected by the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) as one of the 11 international payloads to be carried by Chang’e-8, which will land in the lunar South Polar region and deploy a rover and a robot.

Lead institution for Africa2Moon was the Foundation for Space Development in Africa, in a collaboration with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), the South African National Space Agency, SU, Rhodes University, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South African companies active in the space sector, and other organisations and institutions. The aim was to deploy a radio telescope technology demonstrator on the far side of the Moon.   

“The Africa2Moon mission presents technical challenges unique to the lunar environment,” pointed out SU ESL Senior Lecturer Dr Arno Barnard. “It serves as a great opportunity to test some of our current technologies and to develop new dedicated components for this mission.”

This demonstrator was called BALLS, which was short for Bounced African Low Lunar Spheres. It would comprise three spherical bodies containing radio telescope antennas that would operate in the frequency range below 20 MHz. Signals in this low frequency range were largely undetectable on Earth. These spheres would be deployed on the lunar surface. If successful, the hope was, over time, to expand BALLS to an array to 55 of these antenna spheres – one for every African country.

Africa2Moon was currently approaching the end of its third phase, with the development and testing of all of the essential electronic, mechanical and structural components of the BALLS sphere, and their assembly. In Phase 4, a technology demonstrator would be sent to China for comprehensive testing by the CNSA; this was scheduled for the middle of this year. This phase was intended to establish that the BALLS payload integrated successfully with the lander and could withstand the launch and the conditions in space. Once approved, a flight model will be assembled, using space-grade components and systems.

The origins of SU’s ESL were in South Africa’s first ever satellite project, SUNSAT. The ESL was set up in 1991 to develop SUNSAT and it has remained involved with local and international space projects ever since. It became involved in Africa2Moon last year, when it was asked to supply independent expertise on the control elements and other electronics of the proposed BALLS design, for the mission design review.

The result was that Africa2Moon asked the ESL for practical assistance in creating the electrical demonstration model required to ensure that the antennas and other systems worked together, and also integrated and communicated with the Chang’e-8 lander. The ESL engineers were most happy to do so. The project has involved both ESL engineers and SU postgraduate engineering students. (The BALLS structural model was developed by SARAO engineers.)

“We could deliver on time largely because we tapped into our long-standing expertise in satellite systems and related designs, and because the design specifications we had suggested during the mission’s review process in early 2025 had been accepted,” highlighted Barnard. “These specifications included the use of off-the-shelf hardware that we are very familiar with and often use in projects related to drones, underground mining, robotics, satellites, CubeSats, PicoSats and the like.”