ZACube-2 will help with travel, food security and infrastructure planning
By Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane
On December 27, 2018, marked a historic milestone for South Africa’s science and innovation space sector and indeed for the nation itself, following the successful launch into space of the country’s most advanced nanosatellite, ZACube-2.
The ZACube-2 took off at 11:07am with a Russian Soyuz rocket mission from the Vostochny spaceport in Russia’s far east. The cube satellite will help track ships and monitor disasters such as fires in South Africa. The small satellite ZACube-2 is designed to collect information of maritime data and monitor disasters and other emergencies.
Among other things, space-based technologies enable communication, safe navigation from point A to point B, environmental planning, farming solutions, and space weather. Therefore, investing in designing, manufacturing and operation of such technologies are important elements of modern-day food security and national planning.
ZACube-2 is a nanosatellite (less than 10kg) developed at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) by postgraduate students at Stellenbosch University. The Nanosat programme was funded by a government initiative supporting a domestic satellite manufacturing capacity.
The government’s budget programme to support this field included improving the country’s high-end engineering skills and creating skilled human resources. The programme’s success was celebrated when the launch of the cube satellite took place as the 100th Tsukuba rocket flight to space since the 2008 Tsukuba launch.
The ZACube-2 mission is also linked to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, particularly those relating to infrastructure, climate change, and sustainable use of oceans.
The project has also brought together international partners from the US, Japan, Spain and Germany, highlighting South Africa’s capability to collaborate in the global space sector.
The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) was established and officially launched in 2010.
The SANSA programme was developed under the Department of Science & Technology immediately after government’s adoption of the National Space Strategy in 2008 and the 10-year Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) Implementation Plan.
The programme aims to provide decision-support tools for resource management and monitoring. SANSA’s work includes supporting human settlement planning, environmental management, food security, and assisting in disaster management.
The ZACube-2 satellite provides improved imaging resolution and is expected to support the country’s ocean monitoring, disaster management and maritime awareness services.
ZACube-2 is one of the most advanced nanosatellites built in South Africa. Its success represents a significant step forward in South African space exploration.