South Africa’s first nanosatellite has made its way into space and is orbiting Earth at an altitude of 600km.

ZACUBE-1, which was renamed as Tshepiso, took off on Thursday morning from the Yasny Launch Base in Russia and moments after 9am made its first pass over South Africa. By 12pm the Ground Station at CPUT had made its first contact with the nanosatellite.

This historic event was celebrated at a launch ceremony on the Bellville Campus that was attended by government officials, local and international members of industry and CPUT staff and students.

NAME: ZACUBE-1 was renamed as Tshepiso, which means promise, by learner Chachane Kgothalang, from Bethel Junior Secondary School in Matatiele, Eastern Cape. The renaming was part of a competition run by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement

CPUT Vice-Chancellor Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga says the university has made history on the African continent for being the first to develop and launch a nanosatellite.

This innovative device was built by CPUT postgraduate students at the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) in collaboration with the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). Over the next few years it will monitor space weather.

LEADERS: Chief Engineer at F’SATI, Francois Visser and Prof Robert van Zyl hold an example of a nanosatellite. Visser was instrumental in the building of the device

South African National Space Agency (SANSA) CEO, Dr Sandile Malinga says the data gathered on space weather, which will be used by the organization, is integral to the understanding and monitoring of solar activity during this period of solar maxima, when the sun is currently at the peak of its 11-year solar weather cycle.

“This is a phenomenon that can have critical implications to the functionality of our technology and electricity on Earth as well as the operation of satellites,” says Malinga.

The launch of Tshepiso also affirms CPUT’s place as a leading institution in the development of human skills capacity for the space science industry.

CELEBRATE: CPUT Vice-Chancellor Designate Dr Prins Nevhutala and Vice-Chancellor Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga applaud as the nanosatellite takes off into space

Chief Director of Space Science at the Department of Science and Technology, Humbulani Mudau says F’SATI graduates will be critical for the successful implementation of the country’s space programme.

Mudau says the DST, which sponsored the development of the nanosatellite, will continue to support the activities of F’SATI.

Interview with F'SATI by News24

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.

It’s official! TshepisoSAT, Africa’s first nanosatellite, has survived one year in space.

The nanosatellite was launched on 21 November 2013, and TshepisoSAT has proved its worth in space.

Developed by postgraduate students following the Satellite Systems Engineering Programme at the French South African Technology Institute (F’SATI), TshepisoSAT has survived the harsh radiation from the sun, extreme temperature fluctuations, a strong solar storm and two close encounters with defunct Russian satellites.

This remarkable achievement was celebrated at the Bellville Campus, with CPUT staff members, government officials, members of industry and the French diplomatic core joining in the festivities.

Humbulani Mdau, Chief Director: Space Science and Technology at the Department of Science and Technology, says the nanosatellite is a testament to the skills in South Africa and its development has been instrumental in creating opportunities for science advancement as well as human capacity development.

Mdau says through the development of TshepisoSAT, CPUT has made a huge contribution towards meeting the country’s goals in the science, technology and engineering spheres.

“TshepisoSAT truly embodies the hope and promise of the next generation of space engineers,” says Mdau.

Dr Peter Martinez, the Chairperson of the South African Council for Space Affairs, commended F’SATI for this remarkable achievement.

“The odds are against you when you launch a nanosatellite, but CPUT got it right, and this is a major achievement,” says Martinez.

Prof Louis Fourie, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Knowledge and Information Services at CPUT, says the university is extremely proud of this achievement.

“This is an example of the capability of our students and staff,” says Fourie.

TshepisoSAT Facts:

• Weighs 1.2 kg and measures 10x10x10 cm
• Is about 100 times smaller than the first satellite launched to space
• Took 18 months to build and 30 000 hours of manpower
• 40 postgraduate students were involved in its development
• It runs on the same amount of power of a 3-watt bulb
• It orbits Earth 15 times a day at an altitude of 600km
• Contains 4 000 electronic components and 1 computer
• The nanosatellite is used to study the propagation of radio waves through the ionosphere and will provide valuable space weather data to the South African National Space Agency Space Science Directorate.

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.

TshepisoSAT, Africa’s first nanosatellite, will celebrate one year in space on Friday, 21 November 2014.

Developed by postgraduate students following the Satellite Systems Engineering Programme at the French South African Technology Institute (F’SATI), TshepisoSAT is proving its worth in space.

It has survived the harsh radiation from the sun, extreme temperature fluctuations, a strong solar storm and two close encounters with defunct Russian satellites.

The nanosatellite has been orbiting Earth up to 15 times a day at an altitude of 600km and during the past few months has transmitted a series of images of South Africa.

HISTORY: The launch of the nanosatellite was viewed by hundreds of delegates who attended the launch event in 2013

Its progress was recently lauded at the 2nd International African Cubesat Workshop 2014, which was hosted by F’SATI.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at CPUT, Prof Anthony Staak, says the University is 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.

Humbulani Mdau, Chief Director: Space Science and Technology at the Department of Science and Technology, says TshepisoSAT has put the country and the continent on the global map.

The team at F’SATI is also happy with the progress made.

Engineer Leon Steenkamp, who is monitoring the nanosatellite’s daily movements from the ground station at the Bellville Campus, says they are currently concentrating all their effort on deploying the nanosatellite’s main antenna that is connected to the high-frequency radio beacon.

This high-frequency radio beacon will be used to study the propagation of radio waves through the ionosphere, providing valuable space weather data to the South African National Space Agency Space Science Directorate.

SPACE: One of the images taken by TshepisoSAT

For up to date information on TshepisoSAT’s activities, visit F'SATI's website.

*The nanosatellite was developed in collaboration with South African National Space Agency and with funding from the Department of Science and Technology, the National Research Foundation and CPUT.

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.

F’SATI made history with the launch of TshepisoSAT, Africa’s first nanosatellite and is now set to intensify its research and innovation with the introduction of postdoctoral fellowships in the area of Satellite Systems Engineering.

Those who take up this opportunity will be part of this winning team who has established itself as South Africa’s leading nanosatellite systems engineering group and has gained international recognition.  

With F’SATI housed at the University’s Bellville Campus, postdoctoral fellows will have access to cutting-edge equipment and state-of-the-art facilities and will also have the opportunity to work alongside Aerospace Engineer, Prof Norman Fitz-Coy, who is renowned for his work at the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida.

Fitz-Coy will lead the activities of the Research Chair in Innovative Small Satellite Technology and Applications for Africa at F’SATI and will play a key role in developing local space engineering skills in a bid to help South Africa’s space industry in its quest to reach its full potential.

Director of F’SATI, Prof Robert van Zyl, says postdoctoral fellows will also benefit from a vibrant link between industry and research.  

“The environment is therefore very conducive to cutting edge research that is relevant to Africa.  We bring together elements of research, innovation and industry and a wide network of international collaborators,” says van Zyl.

Research areas that will be explored by the postdoctoral fellows include the following:

• Satellite communications
• Applied Electromagnetics, including Antennas and EMC
• Attitude Determination and Control
• Computing for space systems
• Data security
• Remote sensing
• Space weather and radiation
• Industrial Engineering and Quality Management

To apply, send your CV and a cover letter to Ian van Zyl at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more information contact Ian van Zyl at 021 959 6925

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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.

Africa’s first nanosatellite, Tshepiso, is proving its worth in space.

During the past three months in orbit, the nanosatellite has survived the harsh radiation from the sun, extreme temperature fluctuations and most recently two close encounters with defunct Russian satellites.

Earlier this month United States Joint Space Operations Centre in California notified the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) that Tshepiso was on close approach with the COSMOS 2151 satellite over Antarctica. COSMOS 2151 was launched in 1991 and weighs a hefty 2 000kg, compared to CPUT’s satellite that weighs 1.2kg and measures 10x10x10cm.

Just two days later, Tshepiso faced another close encounter over Brazil, when the METEOR 2-5 satellite came within 85m of the nanosatellite.

There is nothing that can be done to alter the course or altitude of TshepisoSat as it has no propulsion control. And with the other satellites no longer functioning, they too cannot be controlled.

F’SATI’s Leon Steenkamp, who is monitoring Tshepiso’s daily movements, says during both incidents they were assisted by ground stations at the California Polytechnic State University and the University of Florida in the USA, who were able to listen to signals from Tshepiso during the two periods of close approach.

“The satellite appears unaffected by the two events and is operating as normal,” says Steenkamp.

Developed by F’SATI, the nanosatellite will study the propagation of radio waves through the ionosphere, providing valuable space weather data to the SANSA.

The nanosatellite was designed and built by 40 postgraduate students following the Satellite Systems Engineering Programme offered at F’SATI and was developed in collaboration with SANSA and with funding from the Department of Science and Technology, the National Research Foundation and CPUT.

For more information on the satellite, see www.cput.ac.za/blogs/fsati/

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.

Africa’s first nanosatellite, Tshepiso, has been in space for just over three months and engineers are now preparing for its main mission.

The nanosatellite, developed by F’SATI, carries a high-frequency radio beacon that will be used to study the propagation of radio waves through the ionosphere, providing valuable space weather data to the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Space Science Directorate.

F’SATI staff member Leon Steenkamp says the team of engineers are set to start the process of deploying the nanosatellite’s main antenna that is connected to the high-frequency radio beacon.

“For the past few weeks we have been gathering information in preparation for the mission. We are checking various things, from the temperature of the device to the battery voltage,” he says.

Since its launch in November, Steenkamp has been keeping a close eye on the nanosatellite and monitoring its daily activities from the F’SATI ground station on the Bellville Campus.

Tshepiso has been orbiting earth up to 15 times a day at an altitude of 600km. It also survived a strong solar storm earlier this year and has already transmitted images of South Africa which graced the pages of newspapers across the city.

PHOTOGRAPH: A picture taken by Tshepiso as it passed over South Africa

The nanosatellite was designed and built by 40 postgraduate students following the Satellite Systems Engineering Programme offered at F’SATI and was developed in collaboration with SANSA and with funding from the Department of Science and Technology, the National Research Foundation and CPUT.

Current postgraduate students are starting work on developing ZACUBE-2, a 3-unit CubeSat measuring 10x10x30 cm and weighing about 4kg.

ZACUBE-2 will be a continuation of the space weather experiment of the current ZACUBE-1(Tshepiso) mission.  

For up-to-date information on Tshepiso’s activities, visit F'SATI's website.

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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