The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is searching for support from the global commercial space sector to get its national space programme (NSP) off the ground.
SANSA is consulting with various stakeholders to identify commercial opportunities…
The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is searching for support from the global commercial space sector to get its national space programme (NSP) off the ground.
SANSA is consulting with various stakeholders to identify commercial opportunities and potential public-private partnerships to help it take a larger slice of the global satellite industry, said NSP project manager Renier Balt in an interview with SatelliteFinance.
According to Balt, South Africa currently holds around 30% of the global market share for satellite support, through tracking, telemetry and command, which builds on 50 years of South Africa’s involvement with the international industry.
“This is an excellent springboard for our NSP to expand and grow even more,” he said.
“SANSA has contracts with seven of the largest operators already, and have links or are in discussion with all other significant role players.”
Because South Africa’s NSP is being developed with a long-term view, Balt said all options were being considered for launching its own satellites, from earth observation, communication and science projects, to what role the country should play in navigation from space.
He added that projects have been proposed that would build on SANSA’s heritage and track record from two satellites already in space that were developed in South Africa: Sunsat and Sumbandilasat.
Sunsat is a miniature satellite that was developed by South Africa’s Stellenbosch University, and launched in early 1999 on a Delta II rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base. Sumbandilasat is a micro earth observation satellite that was launched in late 1999 on a Soyuz-2 launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This spacecraft was developed by Stellenbosch University in partnership South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and local small- and medium-sized satellite manufacturer Sunspace.
Balt explained that, with a coordinated space programme, South Africa would also be looking to create sustainable job opportunities within the country that can grow from NSP investments.
“Industry will have to develop technologies and supply chains that are required, like in precision manufacturing technologies, composite materials, and various subsystems in the electronics and control field,” he said.
“Facilities will have to be upgraded and our commercial sector should be able to support the NSP with all these requirements.”
The process to roll out SANSA’s NSP was launched in November 2010.
