BUSINESS NEWS
SA to launch second satellite
Posted Tue, 04 Oct 2005
South Africa hopes to launch its second satellite before the end
of next year, Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena
announced on Monday.
Briefing the media at Parliament, Mangena said his ministry was
initiating a three-year integrated capacity building and satellite
development project.
The R26-million project would result in an increase in satellite
engineering capacity and the production of a mission-ready
Low-Earth-Observation (LEO) satellite.
It was a joint effort between his department, Stellenbosch
University, SunSpace and Information Systems (Pty) Ltd, and the
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research's (CSIR) Satellite
Application Centre (SAC).
The university would be responsible for managing the project,
the associated post-graduate training and scientific research in
aspects of satellite engineering, and software development.
The university had also subcontracted services from SunSpace to
build
the satellite, and the SAC for satellite tracking and
monitoring operations.
Mangena said it was becoming increasingly clear that space
assets were critical enablers for societies instead of just being a
matter of prestige.
The new LEO satellite would serve as a research vehicle capable
of supporting disaster management, food security, health,
infrastructure, land use, safety and security, water resource
management, and stimulation of greater innovation through the
creation of high value products and services.
The university was currently negotiating with international
launch companies for the launch of the satellite, which was planned
to take place during the second half of 2006, he said.
It is likely to be a Russian launch, either from land or a
submarine, and will be missile-based.
Mangena said his department viewed this as the beginning of a
long-term space programme and establishing a South African space
agency.
"We are further committing ourselves to working closely with
other government departments to support the development of a
vibrant space industry in South Africa.
"This programme needs to be expanded to bring in other partners,
both in academia and industry, with specific opportunities targeted
at black economic empowerment," Mangena said.
Stellenbosch University Rector Professor Chris Brink said the
project was high-tech, requiring scientific and engineering
knowledge of the highest order.
"Our engineers at Stellenbosch University, and our spin-off
company SunSpace, have already proven their expertise in this
regard by building and launching Africa's first satellite in 1999.
We are now adding several extra dimensions," he said.
It was also a capacity-building project, designed to increase
and enhance scarce skills.
"It is a project with a strong African focus, which will put us
into partnership with other African
scientists.
"And, perhaps most importantly, it will in the end have
practical outcomes improving the quality of life for ordinary
people... monitoring land, water and vegetation, and enhancing our
capacity of dealing with issues such as health, resource management
and poverty," Brink said.
South Africa's first satellite, Sunsat, was also developed by
Stellenbosch University and successfully launched by the United
States space agency, Nasa, in February 1999.
Sapa
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