Today, 9 December 2010, marks the dawn of a new space era in the history of South Africa. The primary purpose and “policy driver” of the national space programme is to “leverage the benefits of space science and technology for socio-economic development”, as espoused in the National Space Strategy.
The information, products and services to be derived from the Space agency will be secured through developing and operating a suite of satellite borne and ground based platforms, including:
- Earth observation,
- Navigation and positioning,
- Communications,
- Space science and exploration.
In order to realise these benefits, a number of initiatives will be rolled out and these include:
- Developing a cohort of scientists and engineers to provide for a pool of experts,
- Initiating a number of Centres of Competence that will focus on the development of technology platforms,
- Funding critical infrastructure that will form the foundation for research and development initiatives,
- Leveraging on strategic international partnerships to address any inherent weaknesses of the local space sector, and
- Promoting awareness and advocacy of the space programme to ensure broader public participation and buy-in.
Most importantly, in order to realise the above objectives, the South African government has launched the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), as part of the National Space Strategy. South Africa now joins a select group of nations in the world that have space agencies.
Legislation that enabled the creation of SANSA was signed by the President in 2008, and SANSA will focus on the following six themes:
- Earth Observation which will utilise space systems to collect and distribute data for socio-economic benefit, including agriculture, environmental and resource management, disaster management, health, safety, security, rural development and urban planning. This is in partnership with international partners and, SANSA signed today a CBERS[1]-3 data access MoU with INPE from Brazil and CRESDA from China.
- Space Operations: satellite mission control, satellite telemetry, tracking and control. South Africa already has a significant global share in this industry through the CSIR Satellite Applications Centre which will be migrating into SANSA as from 1 April 2011.
- Space Science: multi-disciplinary space science in collaboration with national and global universities and other R&D institutions with a view to creating new knowledge and developing new skills.
- Space Engineering to drive South Africa’s space systems development and innovation. This will build on the foundation laid during the development of South Africa’s satellite SumbandilaSat that was launched into space in 2009.
- Human Capital Development is a cross-cutting theme that will underpin all of SANSA’s activities. The primary objective is to develop rare and transferable skills that the country desperately needs in the Science, Engineering & Technology (SET) sectors.
- Science Advancement & Public Engagement to stimulate interest, better understanding and appreciation of science amongst the youth and the general public.
Media Enquiries:
Tommy Makhode
Cell: 082 379 8268
Lunga Ngqengelele
Cell: 082 566 0446
