Last week Marian Shinn of the DA stated in Parliament that the SumbandilaSat satellite was a failure. She went on to claim that, while the DA supports the South African space programme, an investment in SunSpace (who designed the satellite) would be a mistake, and it would be more cost-effective to buy satellites from abroad.
The Ministry and the Department of Science and Technology make the following comments on her statement.
First, SumbandilaSat is not a failure. In fact, in the space community it is widely regarded as a success. The satellite captures and downloads imagery to the ground station at the CSIR Satellite Applications Centre. It is true that there was damage to the z-reaction wheels (reaction wheels assist in the stabilisation of the satellite in 3-dimensions (x, y, z)) on the satellite. However, the engineers found an innovative solution so that the quality of images sent to earth is not compromised. This innovation is a world first.
The time available to a satellite for imaging per day is determined by orbital physics. Low-earth orbiting satellites are only visible to their own ground stations for around 10 minutes during an overpass. This issue is not peculiar to SumbandilaSat; it is true of all satellites.
Second, SumbandilaSat is a not a fully fledged satellite. It is, as Ms Shinn knows full well, a ‘technology demonstrator’. It is a pilot on a pathfinder mission. As with all pilots, its aim is to reveal technical strengths and weaknesses so that a future prototype will be technologically more sophisticated than its progenitor.
Third, public sector support for a space programme is essential. All space activities begin as government initiatives. This is because of the large capital investments that are required; the need for government to show confidence in its own local technology; and the need for governments to control dual-use technology.
Even if SunSpace is to remain a private company, it would still need government assistance in unlocking market opportunities and potential. SunSpace has, via its international business, already brought in foreign exchange to the value of around R230 million. With the growth in the small satellite market, and other opportunities being opened up with government investment, this figure can grow significantly.
To benefit from a space programme, South Africa needs to have its own satellite launch capabilities. We have to move away from being a net importer of technology and develop our own satellite technology so that we can tap into a potential market for nano and micro satellites. Since the launch of SumbandilaSat, several countries have already approached us for collaboration relating to satellite missions. In particular, we have signed agreements with India and Brazil to develop and launch a satellite together and we have made progress in setting up an African consortium.
“There are key ideological differences,” said Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, “between political parties on the role of the market in science and innovation, with left-leaning parties preferring a balance of funding for applied research and right-leaning parties favouring a balance of funding for basic research.”
She continued, “The DA is right-wing, anti-science and pro-market. The DA is keen to invest public funds in basic science in universities, but then it thinks that the private sector can take care of the rest of science and technology.”
She said, “The government believes that investing in a space programme is the right policy for South Africa.”
The government has taken a decision to invest in SunSpace, subject to the completion of a process of due diligence. However, no investment has yet been made in SunSpace.
Enquiries:
Tommy Makhode
Cell: 082 379 8268
