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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The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is set to strengthen its long-standing relationship with CPUT.

This week, SANSA CEO Dr Sandile Malinga visited the Bellville campus and met with Vice-Chancellor Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga and representatives from the French South African Technology Institute (F’SATI) to discuss future collaborations.

Malinga says the work in satellite engineering at F’SATI has been at the core of the relationship between the institutions.

During the past few years, SANSA has shown continued support for ZACUBE-1, a nanosatellite designed and constructed by postgraduate students and staff members at F’SATI. The satellite will be launched later this year and will carry a scientific experiment from SANSA Space Science Directorate in Hermanus.  

Malinga says he is impressed with operations at F’SATI and says CPUT, along with other higher education institutions, will play a key role in the implementation of the national space programme and contribute directly to the development of future satellites and missions.

Head of F’SATI, Prof Robert van Zyl says they are looking forward to a long-term partnership in space science research with SANSA for the benefit of the country and the scientific world.

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.

As the world commemorates 50 years since Yuri Gagarin became the first human being in outer space after his spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth in April 1961, Russian cosmonaut and former Red Army test pilot, Valery Tokarev, visited CPUT's Bellville campus to mark the epic event. Tokarev is a guest of The South African National Space Agency (SANSA), who work closely with CPUT's very own French South African Institute of Technology.

Tokarev was a leading test pilot in Russia before becoming a cosmonaut. Praised by Russian and American astronauts and colleagues as “the man you'd want on your crew if you were flying to Mars”, his professional apex was reached in 2005, when he commanded the Soyuz spacecraft on Expedition 12. F'SATI's Operations Manager, Ian Van Zyl, says Tokarev's visit cements the reputation of CPUT and F'SATI as the country's breeding ground for the development of space scientists.

“F'SATI is fast becoming renowned for producing the human capital required for a sustainable, successful South African space industry. We're proud and honoured to be recognised as 'the space hub' of the Western Cape – and in turn, of South Africa. In the past there was a space programme at Stellenbosch University, but we are now the only university in the country that offers a post-graduate programme that is specifically space-related – training the country's future satellite engineers.”

Van Zyl concludes with an anecdote about a recent SANSA media briefing, held to publicise the efforts of the national space industry. He says journalists at the briefing were flabbergasted that such world-class research and innovation was emanating from CPUT. “Our message to the journalists was, yes, there is a university on the Cape Flats building satellites!”And training young South Africans to reach for the stars.

By Jan Weintrob 

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT is set to make history today with the launch of South Africa’s first nanosatellite, ZACUBE-1.

The nanosatellite will be launched this morning from the Yasny Launch Base in Russia, on top of a RS-2OB Dnepr rocket.

This historic event will be witnessed by a delegation of government officials, members of local and international industry and CPUT staff and students via a live audio-feed at a launch ceremony on the Bellville Campus.

BESPOKE: ZACUBE-1 contains over 4 000 electronic components and will travel more than 6 billion kilometers into space before deorbiting

The university will also be awarded the official licence for ZACUBE-1 from the South African Council for Space Affairs, which administers the country’s national register of space assets.

ZACUBE-1, which measures 10x10x10cm and weighs 1.2kg, was designed built by 40 postgraduate students following the Satellite Systems Engineering Programme offered at the university’s French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI).

Despite its size, this nanosatellite has a very serious mission - it will provide valuable space weather data to the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Space Science Directorate.

ZACUBE-1 contains one computer, several antennas, and 4,000 electronic components and runs on the same amount of power as a 3-watt bulb. It will orbit the earth up to 15 times a day and travel up to 6 billion kilometers before deorbiting.

The nanosatellite was sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology and CPUT and was built in collaboration with SANSA.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and Department of Defence (DoD) together with the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) recently visited CPUT.

The visit was a fact-finding mission to assess the state of the African Space Innovation Centre’s capability and potential to provide satellite and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) short courses to the defence department.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, who welcomed the high-level delegation says the well-organised event “was very successful” and that CPUT is already a major player in space and the building of nanosatellites. “Therefore, CPUT will have an opportunity to contribute and exhibit her prowess to many stakeholders and a broader platform for the benefit of the Republic of South Africa,” Nhlapo boasts.

Prof Veruscha Fester: Assistant Dean: Research, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Dr Angus Brandt and Chief Engineer, Nyameko Royi provided an overview of activities in African Space Innovation Centre (ASIC) and Royi later facilitated a tour of the space facilities.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Dr David Phaho, who outlined CPUT’ sustainability plans for ASIC, was impressed by the interest shown by DoD brass to “our Research, Innovation” as well as training in the Space Science and Technology Initiatives. “The appreciation they showed to CPUT as an engaged university focusing on the needs of society is noted,” Phaho observes.

He continues: “We regard ASIC/F’Sati as a continental flagship programme hence management has committed resources (human resources, equipment) to ensure sustainability as well as overall transformation of the emerging space industry by training students who reflect the country’s demographics.”

In his observation, Humbulani Mudau, Chief Director: Space Science and Technology, Department of Science and Innovation says the University shared their impressive achievements with the visitors. “The University produced seventy-four satellite engineers from all over the continent with 43% as South Africans over a period of twelve years and five satellites from 2009 to 2021, one launched in 2013, the other one in December 2018 and constellation of three launched in January 2022,” Mudau remarks. He adds that in the current cycle the University admitted 58 students with 81% being South Africans.

“We achieved the purpose of the visit, since Dr Phaho also shared the future plans to sustain the ASIC,” he says.

In his remarks, Brigadier General Lance Mathebula voiced his happiness with the CPUT visit and said their mission was to see how CPUT can assist his department in making sure “that we can have our people that are qualified in air and space”. “We prefer to start with short courses first to improve their skills before they start with long courses.”

Reflecting on the event, Phaho says: “It was a high-level delegation who are aware of our footprint in the space sector. They showed an interest in working with CPUT in advancing the sector in the greater national interest.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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