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.

CPUT recently hosted a delegation from University Paris Est Créteil (UPEC).

The nine professors, including the President of the university, Prof Jean-Luc Dubois-Randé, were visiting the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI).

UPEC and F’SATI have a collaboration agreement, funded by an ERASMUS+ Programme.

Scientific Director of F’SATI Prof François Rocaries said the members of Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA) were specifically invited by F’SATI at CPUT in order to talk about increasing the collaboration between the two teams and the creation of a Space Campus at UPEC.

“While UPEC and CPUT are linked by a general Memorandum of Understanding, this is larger than just the F’SATI collaboration,” said Rocaries.

In addition to strengthening the existing links between the two universities the delegation was also here to talk about how to develop a PhD programme in co-tutelle and establish a joint Master’s qualification in the field of Space Technologies.

“The co-tutelle doctoral programme is a doctoral programme between two universities, one French one local. Students registered in this programme have two supervisors, one belonging to CPUT and the other belonging to the French partner university. At the end of their work the student will have two doctoral degrees, one from CPUT and the other from the university partner.

“The conditions for obtaining these doctorates are more stringent as the candidate must meet the requirements of both universities.

“This formula, however, allows for strong links between the two laboratories that host the doctoral student and the student must spend a minimum amount of time in each laboratory,” explained Rocaries.

The delegation also discussed setting up a student exchange programme at the Bachelor level between the two universities’ Electrical Engineering Departments.

While a working knowledge of the French language is useful for South African students studying courses at UPEC, it is not a mandatory requirement. “Last year several students from Tshwane University of Technology studied at UPEC and they did great without mastering the language,” said Rocaries.

While on the visit to Bellville Dubois-Randé also announced the foundation of a UPEC financial aid scheme to help foreign students that could benefit CPUT students wishing to take advantage of these opportunities.

The “Backpack” programme is aimed primarily at those studying for their Master’s and would allow three CPUT students to intern at UPEC within the framework of short-mobility schemes (either April to June or October to December).

*Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information on the financial aid scheme.

Written by Theresa Smith

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Provides coverage for the Applied Sciences and Engineering Faculties and the Wellington Campus.