Many South Africans would be surprised to learn that South Africa has a space programme. Somehow this rather significant fact has managed to slip beneath the general news radar; although, as matters are still rather chaotic, perhaps that's the way it was intended. South Africa has, by all accounts, kept a tenuous toe-hold in the development of astronautical technology since the beginning of the space race. Between the 50s and 70s the country helped track satellites from a NASA tracking station at Hartebeesthoek (north of Johannesburg), and in the 80s South Africa launched its first space programme.
The programme was almost a success. Satellite integration and testing facilities were built at Grabouw in the Western Cape and a launch facility was constructed in Arniston, on the Cape South Coast. Unfortunately, the programme was discontinued in 1994, without launching any satellites.
At this point the University of Stellenbosch picked up the reins, with the result that in 1999 the university was able to launch its Sunsat microsatellite. The university programme was so successful that was able to form a private company called SunSpace and Information systems in March 2000.
One of the problems with the South African space industry was that for a long time it was unregulated; there was no single body, such as NASA, to oversee cohesive and comprehensive development. The National Research Foundation acted as an umbrella organisation for several research institutions and programmes, and so did the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The Department of Science and Technology has a satellite programme and even the Department of Trade and Industry got in on the action.
To impose some order on the chaos, the South African National Space Agency Bill was signed into law in 2009. The bill makes provision for the creation of a national space agency that will oversee and coordinate all space-related activities, initiatives and programmes taking place in the country. According to spacetravel.com, the agency will also "promote the peaceful use of outer space; foster research in astronomy, earth observation, communications, navigation and space physics; foster international cooperation in space-related activities; and advance scientific, engineering and technological competencies through human capital development and outreach programmes". Furthermore, it must "facilitate the development of space missions, develop technology platforms, and acquire, assimilate and disseminate space satellite data for any organ of state".
The development of local technology platforms is particularly important; otherwise the country will remain dependent on foreign platforms and the debacle that was the launch of the Sumbandila satellite will be repeated time and again. Sumbandila is South Africa's second low-Earth orbiting satellite and while it is currently making its circumference around the world, the road to its launch was particularly rocky.
Initially, the satellite was to be launched from a Russian submarine in late 2007, the launch was aborted, however, for reasons that were never made clear (there were rumours that both Russian and South African defence departments got involved). The agency through which the launch was being coordinated, Roskosmos, maintained that it would be able to send Sumbandila into space and then it all became a matter of timing. The launch was moved out to a window period of 25 December 2008 to 25 March 2009. It was then shifted to May 2009 and then late August 2009 and then again to 17 September, 2009, when it finally did breach the Earth's atmosphere.
Despite the setback, things are looking up for South Africa's space industry. Peter Martinez, South African Astronomical Observatory, says that international interest in South African space technology is growing. Currently, SA is competing against Australia to host the massive Square Kilometre Array telescope installation (results to be announced in 2011), and it has already been decided that in 2011 Cape Town will be the first African city to host the International Astronautical Congress.
Bart Cilliers, managing director of SunSpace, says that there are plans to develop more earth observation satellites as well as geostationary satellites. Ron Olivier, executive director of business development at SunSpace, says that at least two more satellites need to be launched within the next five years to ensure continued development and improvement.
According to the government's Chief Director Advanced Manufacturing Space Affairs at the Department of Trade and Industry, Nomfuneko Majaja, South Africa could be able to launch satellites within the next five to ten years. However, Marc Comninos, managing director of Marcom Aeronautics & Space believes that the country's capabilities will grow much faster than that, and that South Africa will be able to launch commercial space flight programmes by 2015.
Whatever the future holds for South Africa's space industry, it finally looks as though the government has made it a priority. Before we know it, we could see the first South African designed, built and launched spaceship deliver the first South African to walk on the moon.
Phil writes about travel information for the South Africa travel & adventure directory, Leeulekker.
