The government is considering reopening apartheid-era space rocket launch sites to fast-track a national space programme
Spaced Out: Opportunities may be opened up by a satellite programme. Here,
deputy minister of science and technology Derek Hanekom toasts the project
before the launch of Sumbandila Sat Picture: GALLO/GETTY
The move coincides with a major breakthrough for the country's space science
industry - the first detailed images from the national space satellite
launched last year and now orbiting 500km above the earth.
Naledi Pandor, the minister of science and technology, this week told the
Sunday Times that the aim of the programme was to turn South Africa into a
regional space hub. Recommissioning old launch sites would be a major step
forward for the country's space ambitions, she said.
The two sites are both in the Western Cape - the Overberg Test Range (OTB)
outside Bredasdorp, and Houwteq near Grabouw.
Pandor said the Houwteq site already had a "launch integration building"
where a launch vehicle had been assembled by apartheid-era engineers. She
said the facilities could be used to kick-start a space programme that would
focus on human development rather than on defence.
The sites are from South Africa's old military space programme, developed
during the '80s when the government was largely isolated from the world
because of apartheid. The government was interested in launching a low-orbit
satellite to assist its military operations in Southern Africa. The
facilities were taken over by the national arms company, Denel.
Pandor said: "In starting up a space launch capability there are two issues
that are of importance: in terms of the actual launch vehicle, do we build
on what has been done in the past or look for an alternative, (perhaps) more
cost-effective option? Can we use the support infrastructure developed as
part of the previous launch vehicle programme?"
She said South Africa was well advanced in satellite development and
management, and had a world-renowned satellite applications centre run by
the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). "The potential
for South Africa to become a regional space hub is immense. We have already
proved that we have the capability for the development, manufacture and
operation of satellites.
"There is certainly a need for an indigenous African (space science)
capability, and other African countries are waking up to this realisation,"
Pandor said.
South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria and Kenya recently formed the African
Resource Management Constellation, which plans to launch at least three more
satellites for "earth observation".
The country's first satellite, Sumbandila Sat, was built by engineers in
Stellenbosch.
It has produced high-resolution images that have many uses, including making
accurate maps and charts for development work.
Ron Olivier, whose company spearheaded the Sumbandila Sat project, said a
rejuvenated national space programme was good news for the country's growing
scientific and engineering sectors, which were eager to compete on the
international market.
He said investing in more satellites would entrench South Africa's lead over
African countries in the space race.
"The more satellites you have, the more you are able to revisit (orbit over)
the same space and the more data you can make available," Olivier said.
But South Africa's contribution was likely to be in the niche market and not
space exploration.
"The amount of investment that is required to do outer space missions on
your own is just mind boggling. We will be a niche player.
"Eventually, as you grow the space capability you will be able to develop
payloads and assist on international collaboration, like missions to Mars,
but right now that is pretty far into the future," he said.
Raoul Hodges, the head of the satellite applications centre, said South
Africa was already a world leader in earth observation data and the analysis
of satellite images.
"For years we've been buying the data from international sites. Now we have
our own," he said.
Extending the programme to incorporate satellite launching would add to
South Africa's expertise, Hodges said.
"The general public may see a space programme as going to Mars. But for me
it's about reaching out and giving a social benefit back to the country
whereby we can develop projects out of earth observation data."
Commenting on Pandor's plans to revisit old launch sites, Hodges said a
satellite launch programme would require massive investment "but
there's no doubt the technology and the
engineers exist".
With acknowledgements to Bobby Jordan and Sunday Times.
There's no doubt the technology and the engineers existed.
The BEE-run SA niche space industry is going to be an interesting one.
Can't wait.