CPUT has made its mark on the global space arena with the unveiling of South Africa’s first CubeSat.

The CubeSat, ZACUBE-01, which measures 30x10x10 cm and weighs approximately three kilograms was unveiled on Friday at the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI), a specialised unit at CPUT’s Bellville campus.

Dr Sandile Malinga, CEO of the newly established South African Space Agency (SANSA), said the unveiling of the CubeSat is a significant milestone for South Africa, which is aiming to become a key player in the global space science and technology industry.

The CubeSat was developed by 50 students following F’SATI’s Satellite Engineering Programme and staff members. This postgraduate programme, which is backed by the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation, aims at developing the human potential and intellectual capacity needed to grow South Africa’s space industry.

Malinga commended CPUT for the rollout of the programme and for being on the forefront of developing space and satellite skills in the country.

“Our country is challenged in terms of skills and our government has set an ambitious goal of creating more jobs. I believe that space science has an important role in contributing to this goal,” he said.

F’SATI Deputy-Director, Professor Robert van Zyl, who is driving CPUT’s space activities, said students are currently involved in the development of a second CubeSat – ZACUBE-02, which will be unveiled in 2013.

If all goes as planned, ZACUBE-01 will be launched early next year and used for space science experiments. Its activities will be monitored by the ground station, which has been set up at FSATI’s premises on the Bellville campus.

ZACUBE-01 will be exhibited at the International Astronomical Federation Conference, which will take place this week at the Cape Town International Convention Centre,

By: Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Researchers at CPUT are taking innovation to another level with the development of South Africa’s first CubeSat - a type of miniature satellite.

The CubeSat, ZACUBE-01, will be unveiled on Friday, 30 September 2011 at the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI), a specialised unit at CPUT’s Bellville campus that focuses on satellite engineering.

“This is a significant milestone for our institution, and country,” said F’SATI Deputy-Director, Professor Robert van Zyl, who is driving CPUT’s space activities.

The CubeSat, which measures 30x10x10 cm and weighs approximately three kilograms, was built by staff members and postgraduate students specialising in F’SATI’s Satellite Systems Engineering Programme.

This postgraduate programme, which is backed by the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation, aims at developing the human potential and intellectual capacity needed to grow South Africa’s space industry.

Offered as a postgraduate course, the programme covers the broad fields of satellite communication, embedded and power systems, as well as electric and magnetic compatibility studies.

The building of CubeSats forms an integral part in the programme, providing students with the exposure and discipline they will need to work on bigger satellites in industry.

Prof van Zyl said currently they are involved in the development of a second CubeSat, ZACUBE-02, which they plan to unveil in 2012.

If all goes as planned, ZACUBE-01 will be launched early next year and used for space science experiments. Its activities will be monitored by the ground station, which has been set up at FSATI’s premises on the Bellville campus.

ZACUBE-01 will be showcased at the International Astronomical Federation Conference, which will be held in Cape Town in early October.

By: Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT is making history as it prepares to launch the continent's first cubesat, ZACUBE-1.

Developed by students and staff members ZACUBE-1 will be launched in mid-November from a Russian launch base.

But before it enters space, ZACUBE-1 will have to undergo a few more processes.

Next week the CubeSat will be sent to an institute in the Netherlands where it will be integrated with other CubeSats from across the world.

SEND-OFF: Researchers and government representatives watch on as a CPUT staff member and student package ZACUBE-1.

Once this process is completed, it will then be sent to Russia and injected in space at an altitude of 600km.

Speaking at the send-off ceremony, CPUT Vice-Chancellor, Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga says the development of the device is a milestone for the institution.

“We are making history as a university of technology in South Africa,” she says.

“What makes this more significant is that this work was not done by scientists out there, but by students and staff.”

Deputy Director for Research, Development and Innovation at the Department of Science and Technology, Dr Valanathon Munsami commended CPUT for its hard work.

During the past few years, F’SATI has received financial support for the development of the cubesat from the DST and the National Research Foundation.

Dr Munsami says the institution lived up to their expectations and delivered an innovative device.

The CubeSat’s main mission will be to collect information on space weather that will be used by the South African National Space Agency.

F’SATI Deputy-Director, Prof Robert van Zyl, says they are positive ZACUBE-1 will deliver on its mandate.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Cubesats are revolutionising access to space and have gone beyond being training tools for university students.

The success of Cubesat technology was celebrated at the 2nd International African Cubesat Workshop 2014, which was hosted by the French South African Technology Institute (F’SATI) on the Bellville Campus.

The two-day workshop was attended by students, academics, industry practitioners, government officials and members of the diplomatic core who discussed the latest developments in nanosatellite technology and applications.

The workshop also coincided with French Day, which celebrated collaborations between France and CPUT in the space sector.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at CPUT, Prof Anthony Staak, says the workshop is of special significance to the institution as it approaches the first anniversary of the TshepisoSAT launch.

TshepisoSAT is the first Cubesat developed in Africa by postgraduate students at F’SATI and was launched on 21 November 2013. Its mission is to collect data on space weather for the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).

“We are extremely proud of this achievement. It’s certainly a tribute to Rob (Director of F’SATI) and his team, the students, the staff and many others who contributed to our satellite engineering programme,” says Staak.

Staak says CPUT has benefitted immensely from strong partnerships with a range of French Institutions through F’SATI, such as the Paris Chamber of Commerce, the French Embassy and various French universities.

RESEARCHER: Prof Norman Fitz-Coy, who holds the Research Chair in Innovative Small Satellite Technology and Applications for Africa at F’SATI

Locally, F’SATI has been funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and has been supported by the National Research Foundation and SANSA.

Humbulani Mdau, Chief Director: Space Science and Technology at DST, says they are very pleased with the strides made by F’SATI, adding that the launch of TshepisoSAT has put the country and the continent on the global map.

He says the concept of CubeSats has gained significance and the introduction of this technology is transforming the way we explore space.

Dr Sandile Malinga, the CEO of SANSA, echoed Mdua’s statements and says CubeSats are no longer just affordable student training tolls, but can be used for scientific applications.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Already established as a regional leader in the field of nanosatellites, a new company, Amaya Space has been set up by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and is set to launch the institution to even greater heights.

In 2013 CPUT made history with the launch of ZACUBE-1, South Africa’s and Africa’s first nanosatellite.

ZACUBE-2, which will be the most advanced South African CubeSat to date, is set to be launched soon.

Radio systems and other technologies developed at the University are also used in many satellites from around the world.

Now the university has taken the next step - setting up a company which aims to be the first truly transformed space company, by Africans for Africans.

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at CPUT is a key enabler of this initiative. Dr Revel Iyer, Director of the TTO, says it is critical for our nation and continent that a strong, African-born nanosatellite company emerges. South Africa has a couple of nanosatellite industry players. “However, these companies are generally not truly transformed and representative of our nation’s demographics as none of them are being run by black South Africans; none of them focus on employing young black South African engineering graduates; and none of them are well positioned to be the preferred supplier for South African Government. This company will furthermore aim to catalyse a transformational supplier development programme,” says Iyer.

“We have a collective body of knowledge - intellectual property - that we have created within CPUT which we are mandated to commercialise,” says Professor Robert van Zyl, director of the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) at CPUT.

“We want to respond to national directives like government’s Operation Phakisa. Nanosatellite solutions can provide services to support Operation Phakisa, for example in the maritime domain.”

The company will aim to deliver fully functional “CubeSat” constellations primarily to the South African government as well as governments elsewhere on the African continent while striving to serve a role in the building and transformation of the emerging space industry.

“CPUT has been successful, at academic and research levels, to give previously disadvantaged students opportunities. We also employ them in our Africa Space Innovation Centre as engineers-in-training. The expectation is that they will feed into and drive the company, and indeed the whole industry,” says Van Zyl.

“CPUT continues to play a pivotal role in the research, innovation and commercial development of the South African and African space industries. This puts us in quite a unique situation for already having established this complete value chain in a new, technologically disruptive industry. By having a vibrant industry that can take up research it will catalyse further research within the university and conversely that will translate into more competitive products and services for the industry.”

The CPUT Satellite Programme is hosted by the French South African Institute of Technology and is strategically supported by the South African government through The Department of Science and Technology, The SA National Space Agency, The National Research Foundation and Development Finance Institutions. Our key industry partners include Stone Three and Etse Electronics in South Africa, and Clyde Space in Scotland.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Four years after making history with the launch of Africa’s first nano-satellite into space, CPUT is preparing to reach even greater heights with the launch of its second CubeSat - ZACube-2.

ZACube-2 will be the most advanced South African CubeSat to date and is expected to launch in May or June from a launch site in India.

It was developed by the Satellite Programme of the CPUT French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI), which is based at the Bellville campus.

“ZACube-2 is a triple unit CubeSat so it is three times the size of its predecessor, which was called TshepisoSat,” says F’SATI director, Prof Robert van Zyl.

“It is currently being tested and qualified for space, which means it is being subjected to the extreme conditions it will be exposed to in the space environment.”

The main payload on the satellite is an AIS (automatic identification system) receiver with which navigational data will be received from ships along our coast. This data, which includes the ships’ GPS coordinates, registration information, speed and direction of travel, will assist the authorities to track ship traffic in our exclusive economic zone, and improve the safety of ships.
ZACube-2 will also carry an advanced camera, which will detect forest and velds fires.

ZACube-2 serves as a precursor mission for two future satellite constellations - the one for Maritime Domain Awareness in support of Operation Phakisa and the other a FireSat constellation to track fire on the African continent,” says Van Zyl.

The ZACube-2 mission is an initiative funded by the Department of Science and Technology, the South African National Space Agency, the National Research Foundation and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Our technology partners include the CSIR, Stone Three, Clyde Space, Stellenbosch University and Astrofica.

• Operation Phakisa is an initiative of the South African government, and is aimed at implementing priority programmes better, faster and more effectively.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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