Name of the Project
Regional Space Weather Centre.
Location
Hermanus, in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Project Owner/s
South African National Space Agency (Sansa).
Project Description
Sansa is a member of the International Space Environment Service, and its space science facility, in Hermanus, is the regional warning centre for space weather in Africa. This centre, established in 2010 and upgraded in 2018, is a limited-focus research and development centre. It has been focused on space weather impacts on high-frequency communications and was not able to operate on a 24/7basis; however, the new centre will provide a full and 24/7 service.
The state-of-the-art centre will fall under the Sansa Space Science programme, also based in Hermanus, and will be akin to a ‘space park’.
The centre will monitor the weather in space and monitor solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which can interfere with electronics on satellites, satellite navigation system signals, communications and even, in extreme cases, electricity grids on Earth. With the now significant dependence of modern life on satellite-based systems, such interference can have direct, as well as indirect, effects on people’s lives. Consequently, space weather needs to be monitored, and that need is growing.
Potential Job Creation
R15-million will be dedicated to human capital development, including skills development and job creation.
Capital Expenditure
R70.89-million over three financial years, covering establishment costs, operational costs, capital expenditure and human resources.
Planned Start/End Date
Construction is set to start in April, with the Space Weather Centre expected to be fully operational from October 1, 2022.
Latest Developments
Sansa has appointed a contractor for this construction project. The project officially broke ground on March 9, 2021.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Not stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
Sansa communications practitioner Daleen Fouche, tel +27 28285 0203 or email Dfouche@sansa.org.za.