Many South Africans would be surprised to learn that South Africa has a space program. Somehow this made quite significant managed to slip under the radar news General; Although, as issues are still rather chaotic, maybe it's the way it was intended. South Africa has, by all accounts, held in a slight toe-hand in the development of the astronautical technology since the beginning of the space race. Between the years ' 50 and ' 70 the country helped track satellites from a NASA tracking station in Hartebeesthoek (North of Johannesburg), and in the years 80 South Africa launched its first space program.
The program was almost a success. Satellite integration and test facilities were constructed in Grabouw, Western Cape Province and a launch was built in Arniston, South of Cape coast. Unfortunately, the program was discontinued in 1994, without starting any satellites.
At this point the University of Stellenbosch took the reins, with the result that the University was able to launch Sunsat microsatellite markers in his 1999. The University was so successful that it 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 was unregulated; There was no single body, like NASA, to oversee global development and consistent. The National Research Foundation has acted as an umbrella organization for various research institutes and programmes, and so did the Council for scientific and industrial research (CSIR). The Department of science and technology has a satellite program and the Department of trade and industry has gotten into action.
To impose some order in the chaos, the South African National Space Agency Bill was signed into law in 2009. The Bill provides for the creation of a national space agency that supervise and coordinate all space activities, initiatives and programs taking place in the country. According to spacetravel.com, the Agency will also "promote the peaceful uses of outer space; promote research in astronomy, Earth observation, navigation, communication and space physics; promote international cooperation in space activities; and advance scientific knowledge, technological and engineering through programs of awareness and the development of human capital. " Also, should "facilitate the development of space missions, develop technology platforms and acquire, assimilate and disseminate satellite data space for all organs of the State".
The development of local technological platforms is particularly important; otherwise the country will remain dependent on foreign platforms and the debacle that was the launch of the satellite Sumbandila will be repeated several times. Sumbandila is the second low Earth orbiting satellite of South Africa and while its circumference is currently doing in the world, for its launch has been particularly Rocky.
Initially, the satellite would be launched from a Russian submarine at the end of 2007, the launch was aborted, however, for reasons that were never made clear (there were rumors that have involved Russian departments of Defense and South African). The Agency through which the launch was coordinated, Roskosmos, maintained that it would be able to send Sumbandila in space, and then it all became a matter of timing. The launch was moved to a window period of December 25, 2008 to March 25, 2009. It was later moved to May 2009 and then the end of August 2009 and then again to September 17, 2009, when it finally break into the atmosphere.
Despite the setback, things are looking for space industry of South Africa. Peter Martinez, South African Astronomical Observatory, said that growing international interest in space technology. Currently, SA is competing against Australia to host the massive square kilometre array telescope Setup (results will be announced in 2011), and has already decided that Cape Town in 2011 will be the first African city to host the International Astronautical Congress.
Bart Cilliers, CEO of SunSpace, says there are plans to develop more Earth observation satellites and geostationary satellites. Ron Oliver, Executive Director of business development at SunSpace, says that at least two more satellites to be launched within the next five years to ensure the continued development and improvement.
According to Chief Director Advanced Manufacturing Space Affairs of the Government at the Department of trade and industry, Nomfuneko Majaja, South Africa may be able to launch satellites within the next five to ten years. However, Marc Comninos, managing director of Marcom Aeronautics & Space considers that the capacity of the country will grow much faster than that and that South Africa will be able to launch commercial space flight programs by 2015.
Whatever the future holds for the space industry of South Africa, finally looks as if the Government has made a priority. Before you know it, we could see the first South African designed, built and launched the first South African supply ship to walk on the moon.
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