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RESEARCH REPORT 2020
FOCUS AREA
SPACE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Introduction by Prof Robert Van Zyl
The establishment of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) signalled a formal and coherent approach to the development of space-based research, engineering and technology innovation in South Africa. This focus area serves as a catalyst for expanding current research in order to leverage the societal benefits that can be derived from multidisciplinary space-based services. The focus area is informed and guided by national and regional developmental imperatives, primarily the National Development Plan (NDP). Operation Phakisa is an initiative by the South African government to fast-track the implementation of critical solutions that address issues highlighted in the NDP. The first initiative of Operation Phakisa focuses on the South African ocean economy and is subdivided into four areas, one of which focuses on Marine Protection Services and Governance.
The main thrust of research within this focus area is creating space-based solutions to enhance the maritime domain awareness (MDA) of the South African exclusive economic zone. ZACube-2 was the first mission to validate technologies for the MDA. The satellite was launched in 2018, and represented a precursor mission for an ambitious constellation of nanosatellites – the MDASat constellation – now under development. The first three satellites in this constellation will be launched in 2021 as the MDASat-1 mission. The generic implementation of the comprehensive space programme at CPUT, as guided by its ZACube-1 mission five-year development plan, is summarised below: Phase 1 - Development of technological capability Phase 2 - Leveraging the capability to derive research benefits Phase 3 - Development of production capability Phase 4 - Development of a sustainable vehicle for research through nanosatellite technology Phase 5 - Managing a constellation of nanosatellites to the benefit of CPUT and South Africa The focus area has now reached phase 5 of its development.
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Over the past decade, South Africa has become increasingly dependent on space-based applications to manage its national resources and security objectives. Space science is indeed one of the five Grand Challenges defined and addressed by the Department of Science & Innovation in its 10-year Innovation Plan.
vanzylr@cput.ac.za
