The Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is set to make history with the launch of South Africa’s first CubeSat, a type of nano-satellite, ZACUBE-1. The launch is set for 21 November 2013 at 9:10:11 (South African time), atop an RS-2OB rocket (Dnepr) at Yasny launch base in Russia.
Running on the same amount of power as a 5-watt bulb, ZACUBE-1 carries a high frequency beacon which will be used to study the propagation of radio waves through the ionosphere, providing valuable space weather data to the Space Science Directorate of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). It will orbit Earth up to 15 times a day at an altitude of 600km.
Funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the satellite was designed and built by postgraduate students following the CubeSat Programme at the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) at CPUT in collaboration with SANSA.
The satellite is a single unit carrying a space weather experiment. It is designated “ZA-003” in the national register of space assets, proudly following in the footsteps of Sunsat and SumbandilaSat.
Measuring only 10x10x10cm and weighing 1.2kg, this satellite is about 100 times smaller than Sputnik, the first satellite launched into space in 1957. CubeSats were originally developed in 1999 by California Polytechnic State University and Stanford University in the United States to help universities worldwide to perform space science and exploration.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Derek Hanekom says South Africa is gradually demonstrating its capabilities in space science and technology.
“The launch of CubeSat is proof of the skills and the facilities we are gradually developing in the country to ensure space science and technology really benefits every citizen of South Africa,” says Minister Hanekom, adding the data would be very valuable in the related research.
The Director of F’SATI, Prof. Robert Van Zyl, says the strength of the CubeSat Programme is its use of CubeSats as technology platforms for practical, hands-on skills training and applied research. “This approach offers our students a unique learning experience and prepares them very well to participate in the South African space industry.”
F’SATI is at the forefront of developing the human skills capacity in satellite engineering for South Africa and the rest of Africa. Established in 2009, the CubeSat Programme has graduated 32 master’s students, bringing to 42, the total number of F’SATI Alumni at CPUT. The programme has also provided internships to 15 of the graduates as engineers-in-training.
CubeSat Factsheet
- It is South Africa’s first CubeSat.
- It weighs 1.2kg and measures 10x10x10cm.
- It is about 1/100 times smaller than the first satellite launched to space.
- It took more than 30 000 hours of manpower to develop.
- More than 40 postgraduate students were involved in the F’SATI CubeSat Programme.
- ZACUBE-1 runs on the same amount of power of a 5-watt bulb.
- It will be placed in orbit at an altitude of 600km.
- It will orbit the earth 15 times a day.
- It contains 4 000 electronic components and one computer.
- It will travel almost 6 billion kilometers before re-entry.
- It will collect space weather data for the South African National Space Agency’s Directorate in Hermanus.
- Seven antennas elements spread over a 100sqm area in Hermanus will receive the beacon payload signals.
- Six meter long antennas at the Ground Control Station at CPUT’s Bellville Campus will track the satellite, collect the data and issue commands.
More about F’SATI:
The South Africa Space Industry requires specialised skills and with the lack of space professionals and engineers in this field, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) established a human capacity development programme. The Cape Peninsula University of Technology, under its French South African Institute of Technology, introduced a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering in 2008, with a focus on satellite systems engineering.
In this programme, students are taught satellite engineering principles using CubeSats as a training tool. CubeSats use the same engineering principles as any big or small satellite. There are currently more than 40 CubeSat programmes around the world.
As part of its community engagement activities, F’SATI students and staff have demonstrated ZACUBE-1 and other space technology activities to more than 6000 learners throughout South Africa.
Other achievements that were facilitated by the ZACUBE-1 mission are the establishment of the African Space Innovation Centre at CPUT as an innovation hub, the award of a Research Chair in Innovative Small Satellite Technology and Applications for Africa under the South African Research Chair Initiative of the National Research Foundation, and the establishment of high-technology laboratories.
The team at CPUT is already busy developing ZACUBE-2, which will be three times larger than the first, and used for Earth observation and space weather research. The team also contributes to the ZA-Aerosat mission, which is led by the University of Stellenbosch as part of the international QB50 programme where 50 CubeSats will be launched simultaneously in 2015.
Media enquiries:
Tommy Makhode
Chief Director: Science Communication, Department of Science and Technology
Cell: 082 379 8268
Prof Robert van Zyl
Director: French South African Institute of Technology
Tel: 021 959 6925
Email: vanzyli@cput.ac.za
