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FOCUS AREA 2 SPACE SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
2FOCUS AREA SPACE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Introduction by Prof Robert Van Zyl
vanzylr@cput.ac.za
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.
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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Key institutional arrangements providing a solid foundation for growth of this focus area are: • The French–South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI), which emanated from a partnership between the governments of the two countries • The Africa Space Innovation Centre (ASIC) hosted by F’SATI, which serves as an innovation hub to take research to the marketplace through its international industry partnerships • The South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Innovative
Small Satellite Technology and Applications for Africa, which embodies the approach set out in this focus area • Amaya Space, a spin-off company designed to commercialise the intellectual property developed in the CPUT satellite programme, primarily within ASIC
The focus area comprises the following research niche areas and staff:
SPACE SEGMENT
Prof Robert van Zyl, Prof Robert Lehmensiek, Mr Francois Visser, Mr Clive Whaits, Mr Charl Jooste, Mr Nyameko Royi and Mr Leon Steenkamp
SPACE APPLICATIONS
Prof Robert van Zyl, Mr Siddique Motala and Mr Kevin Msungu
ICT FOR SPACE
Dr Laban Mwansa, Prof Elmarie Biermann, Mr Angus Brandt and Dr Vipin Balyan
INDUSTRIALISATION OF SPACE
Prof Stephen Bosman, Prof Mellet Moll, Prof Graham Oliver and Ms Patricia Khwambala
SPACE SCIENCE
Dr Kessie Govender, Mr Rory Pentz and Prof Pierrre Cilliers
Aerospace engineers at CPUT
LEADING THE SPACE RACE IN AFRICA
CPUT is primed to be a hub for postgraduate space technology studies on the continent with the establishment of the Pan African University for Space Sciences Institute. Minister of Finance Mr Tito Mboweni announced in March that CPUT, the Western Cape’s largest university, would host this important technology node. It came as no surprise to the university, since conversations in this regard with a variety of stakeholders, including DHET, DSI and SANSA have been ongoing for a number of years.
VC Prof Chris Nhlapo welcomed Mr Mboweni’s statement, saying that CPUT looked forward to hosting the continent’s brightest minds in space technology studies and that “the creation of this university will foster wealth creation on the African continent and increase data sovereignty for the region. The fact that CPUT will be on the forefront of this exciting development is a big win for universities of technology and reflects the collective hard work, dedication and ambitions of a team who have been working diligently behind the scenes for years.”
CPUT’s Satellite Programme hosted by F’SATI is based on the Bellville Campus and is already a leader in the field after its second nanosatellite, ZACube-2, was successfully launched in December 2018. The programme has already produced well over 60 postgraduate students to support the space industry. Through its vibrant innovation hub, the Africa Space Innovation Centre, CPUT spearheads the commercialisation of nanosatellite technologies.
The CPUT satellite programme has been boosted by the awarding of an NRF Research Chair in Small Satellite Technology and Applications for Africa, as well as the implementation of a master’s degree in Satellite Systems and Application focused on satellite engineering.
RESEARCH INSTITUTE SPACE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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French–South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
Since its establishment in 2009, the F’SATI Postgraduate Programme in Satellite Systems Engineering at CPUT has seen ten years of sustained funding from the Department of Science & Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) for the development of human capacity and skills required by the South African space industry.
Prof Robert van Zyl
vanzylr@cput.ac.za
HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2020
NEW FUNDING
F’SATI hosts the CPUT Research Focus Area: Space Science & Technology, with a programme aimed primarily at postgraduate research and training. It offers international master’s and doctoral dual qualifications in partnership with institutions in France. The CubeSat nanosatellite platform facilitates practical training, which typically spans four phases: Theory, Research, Development and Innovation. The last two phases take place within ASIC, where engineers are employed in a professional environment.
The vision of F’SATI and ASIC is to be a world-class African innovation and support hub with end-to-end capability in the design and manufacture of nanosatellites and their components, space operations and ground-based support. The institute also undertakes data acquisition and handling for the provision of cost-effective satellite-based solutions tailored to the continent’s specific socio-economic needs.
Among the relevant applications are space weather research, marine vessel tracking, wildfire detection and monitoring, and communications and technology validation. New funding of R18 209 197 was secured for the next phase in F’SATI’s programme, namely M2MSat-1 (Machine to Machine Satellite). This is for a period of 20 months. The source of the funding is the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) through their Technology Development Fund.
EXHIBITION SPACE AT COFIMVABA SCIENCE CENTRE
F’SATI has secured permanent exhibition space in conjunction with the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) at the new state-of-the-art Science Centre in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape. The institute is grateful to South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) for their funding support.
NEW QUALIFICATION INTAKE: MEng
The first intake of students for the newly established Master of Engineering in Satellite Technology & Applications took place in 2020. This is a course-based, structured master’s degree. Lectures commenced in June, and all tuition was facilitated on remote platforms.
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NEW QUALIFICATION WITH UPEC
F’SATI developed a new qualification in collaboration with the University of Paris East Créteil (UPEC). UPEC received EU funding for the development of a joint postgraduate qualification with CPUT in the field of space science and technology. In the new Policy Framework for Internationalisation of Higher Education in South Africa, this will likely be a joint degree.
RESEARCH RATING
Prof Robert van Zyl, the Grant Holder, attained a C3 NRF-rating.
POSTGRADUATE BURSARIES
Postgraduate bursaries from the NRF were awarded to eight F’SATI students – one doctoral and seven master’s students received this vital financial support in order to enable their postgraduate research.
FUNDING GRANT FROM EMBASSY OF FRANCE
A funding grant from the Embassy of France in South Africa amounting to €5 000 has enabled the purchase of specialised equipment for use by Dr Gideon Wiid, who joined the institute’s team during 2020. Dr Wiid brings much-needed supervision capacity and research know-how to the programme.
ANNIVERSARIES OF SATELLITES IN ORBIT
F’SATI institute celebrated seven years in orbit of ZACube-1 (TshepisoSAT, launched in 2013), and two years in orbit ZACube-2 (launched in 2018). The institute is enormously proud of the achievement of having these two satellites in space.
RESEARCH SEMINARS
Although F’SATI’s activities for the year were curtailed tremendously as a result of the worldwide pandemic, it still managed to host a number of research and research-related seminars for its students. One of these gave students an opportunity to present their research work to the larger student body and staff complement. Another, which took place before lockdown, featured Dr Annette Froehlich of the German Aerospace Centre and European Space Policy Institute.
RESEARCH CENTRE SPACE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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Africa Space Innovation Centre (ASIC) (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
ASIC was established as a formal RTI research centre within CPUT in 2013. It has since evolved into a vibrant innovation hub, where its graduates and engineers develop cutting edge nanosatellite technologies in new high-tech facilities. These technologies help to support space-based applications such as space weather research, marine vessel tracking, wildfire detection and monitoring, communications and technology validation.
Over the past five years, the ASIC team of engineers has developed a suite of communications products with proven space heritage on a growing number of missions. These products span VHF, UHF, S- and X-band for telemetry and payload data communications.
ASIC is also responsible for the full lifecycle development of nanosatellite missions. Work has started on the design and manufacture of three MDASat nanosatellites that will be the next step in the South African government’s Operation Phakisa and its oceans economy and biodiversity initiatives. This project is a precursor to a larger constellation of similar satellites.
All intellectual property developed in ASIC is licenced to an industry partner, and the products are sold internationally through Clyde Space AAC of Scotland.
The ASIC engineering team members are Prof Robert van Zyl, Mr Francois Visser, Mr Nyameko Royi, Mr Charl Jooste, Mr Leon Steenkamp, Mr Stephen Cupido, Mr Donovan Cogan, Mr Etnard Louw, Mr Morné Roman, Mr Kanyisa Mtshemla, Ms Lilie Leopold, Mr Sinamandla Maqina and Mr Shane Martin. Mr Ian van Zyl provides operational support to the centre.
FUNDING
SOURCE
Research Technology and Innovation (RTI): CPUT Prestigious Project
TOTAL AMOUNT
1 000 000
1 000 000
Prof Robert van Zyl
vanzylr@cput.ac.za
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RESEARCH CENTRE
Centre for Instrumentation Research (CIR) (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
Dr Kessie Govender
govenderk@cput.ac.za
The Centre for Instrumentation Research has a long-standing history within the Department of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering and is based in the new Electrical Engineering Research Building on the Bellville Campus.
The research group consists of a number of master’s students, together with staff members Dr B. Goenewald (who graduated with the doctoral degree in 2020), Mr J Wheeler and Mr K Jooste.
The main projects currently undertaken are novel electronics for direct current technology. A 350V direct current house project is in process. Household appliances are moving towards direct current, which makes the conversion from alternating current to direct current unnecessary and wasteful. The CIR has developed a focus group which is conducting research into a DC micro-grid and 350V direct current house model that will hopefully set the trend for the future domestic landscape.
This is a collaborative project involving a number of local and international partners including De Haagse Hogeschool Delft and and Technische Universiteit Delft in the Netherlands, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium, and industrial experts in the Netherlands.
2020 was an unusual year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and so minimal laboratory work was accomplished in this centre.
RESEARCH GROUP SPACE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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The Quantum Physics Research Group was established within the Department of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering in 2014. Led by physicist Dr Kessie Govender, the group currently conducts investigations and develops expertise in quantum-based technologies. A quantum optics laboratory has been established for the purpose of cooling atoms and the subsequent development of quantum information processing components.
Current projects include the development of an atomic clock for satellite applications, generation and characterisation of entangled photons for quantum key distribution, and fundamental studies of laser–atom interactions.
The group has established collaborations with researchers at the Laser Physics group at Stellenbosch University, the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) and the Quantum Physics Research Group at UKZN. The group is funded by an NRF Thuthuka grant, a CSIR-NLC laser rental pool grant, and CPUT’s Research Directorate and Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment. Additional financial support is also provided by F’SATI.
Currently there are two doctoral students and three master’s students in the group.
2020 was an unusual year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so minimal laboratory work was possible. However, two conference papers that were presented in 2019 were finalised and published this year. Another accomplishment that makes the group proud, is that master’s student Mr Victory Opeolu graduated this year (after having completed his thesis last year).
More information on the activities of the group, and its members and publications, can be found at: http://www.cput.ac.za/ academic/faculties/engineering/research/quantum_physics
Dr Kessie Govender
govenderk@cput.ac.za
