The global news channel, CNN is set to feature the developments in technology, research and work in space science and engineering at CPUT.

Nyameko Royi, a senior engineer at Africa Space Innovation Centre (ASIC) and at French South African Institute of Technology Institute (F’SATI) said this follows recent CNN interviews with some of the engineers who are involved with the development of nanosatellites at CPUT.

“We briefly discussed our nanosatellite missions, past and future, which are ZaCUBE-1, ZACUBE-2 and MDASat-1,” Royi continued.

“We introduced CNN to our labs, where most of our staff spend their day performing simulations, discussing concepts and latest trends in satellite development. We also showed them our production lab where we test and do an inspection of our products. We also went through the Flight Model area where flight-ready equipment is packaged and cleaned before it’s assembled into a Flight Model in the cleanroom.”

He said ZACUBE-1’s mission is to characterise antenna array on Antarctica. The ZACUBE-2 has two payloads, Software Defined Radio (SDR) with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) used in the marine domain to observe ships’ movement in our Exclusive Economic Zone.  The hosted payload in collaboration with the CSIR – K-Line Camera detects potassium in veld fires which could be used as a supplementary to veld firefighting and detection.

MDASat-1 Constellation is a collection of three satellites with an upgraded AIS - SDR which will be used to track and trace vessels on the South African coastal shore. AIS onboard the MDASat 1 can track the ship speed, direction and position of the ship. It also provides the name of the ship, the destination and the origin. It can be used for rescue purposes and in cases of oil spillage on our coastal shores.   

Royi was not sure about the date and programme on which the interviews will be televised. “There is a programme called African Voices Changemakers on CNN, it will be part of that… In the end, this would be part of a 30 minutes’ documentary, an assembly of stories about technology and embracing the 4IR in Africa.”

Among the engineers who were interviewed was Lilie Leopold, who discussed the mission labs - the assembling of flat satellites on the test bench where all the subsystems of the satellite are connected and tested. This is the first stage on the development of the satellite.  Morne Roman shared some insights on the Altitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) operation, together with Royi.

 “We showed the 3D models of the past missions and current missions. We also discussed the success stories of ZACUBE-1 launched in 2013 November and ZACUBE-2 launched in December 2018. We discussed the objectives of both missions and the current mission,” Royi remarked.

Stephan Cupido discussed ZACUBE-2 AIS main payload and the MDASat -1 which is the current mission with AIS payload. He also shared the Ground Station(GS) operations information data acquisition from satellite to the GS to the end-user.

Royi also shared the background of the F’SATI academic programme/ASIC engineering development and training programme as to, how and when it started in 2009 and what were the objectives of the programmes.

“This will be an international advertisement for CPUT where it pertains to the University research and development. With the ASIC programme, this will showcase our beautiful inventions in space engineering and the capability to develop lasting solutions for the world and humanity at large.”   

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The team at the Africa Space Innovation Centre (ASIC) at CPUT has completed the integration of the three flight model (FM) satellites for the upcoming MDASat-1 mission.

ASIC Chief Engineer at the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI), Francois Visser says MDASat-1 consists of three satellites that will be launched simultaneously into space.  “This will relay location beacons and other short messages via radio waves from ships on the ocean below the satellite to CPUT's ground station at its Bellville campus,” Visser explains. The project had received about R20 million in funding from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).

“The team put in extra time to complete this momentous milestone a few days before the DSI's end-of-March deadline.  The occasion is also significant for the fact that this marks the first time in South Africa (SA) that three satellites are built at the same time.”

The next step in the project is the functional testing of the three satellites, including environmental testing that will ensure that they survive the rocket launch and harsh space environments.  The launch is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2021.

Furthermore, DSI recently announced an additional investment of about R18,9 million in the development of two nanosatellites (M2MSat-1) towards increased maritime domain awareness in SA.  Head of the ASIC, as well as the local node of F’SATI at CPUT, Prof Robert van Zyl says the M2MSat-1 will build on the technology of MDASat-1.  

In their recent statement, DSI announced that the funding was channelled through the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an entity of the DSI, to CPUT, “an institution that is playing a leading role in growing space science and technology in SA.” The university has developed cutting-edge nanosatellites and cube satellites (CubeSats) over the years, demonstrating advanced technological capabilities in the country's space industry.

The department stated that SA needed a more strategic and coordinated approach to ensure optimal surveillance of the waters off its coast, including shipping movements within the country's exclusive economic zone. This will promote improved maritime domain awareness and enhanced maritime security. It is the first such initiative for the country to provide communication services to the maritime industry.

The two maritime industry nanosatellites will be powered by "M2MSat" technology, in the form of cutting-edge VHD Data Exchange System (VDES) software-defined radios for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication.

Developed as a collaboration between CPUT and a local company, Stone Three Communications, the M2MSat technology advances the state of the art in space innovation, significantly improving the technology on board CPUT's ZACube-2 nanosatellite, which was launched in 2018.

ASIC has produced two satellites that were launched successfully in 2013 and 2018 respectively. The next mission – the most advanced yet – will see the three MDASat-1 nanosatellites placed in orbit for the purpose of maritime domain awareness, in line with the goals of the government's Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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