ZACUBE-1 is on the first leg of its journey from South Africa to the Netherlands.

Developed by staff and students at French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI), ZACUBE-1 is Africa’s first nanosatellite and will be launched into space this November from a launch base in Russia.

The satellite carries a scientific experiment from the South African National Space Agency’s Directorate in Hermanus, which will allow it to collect information that will be used by scientists to gain an understanding of space weather and its impact on communication technology.

Earlier this week, the nanosatellite was packaged by F’SATI staff, under the watchful eye of a customs official and courier agent.

Measuring 10x10x10 and weighing just over one kilogram, ZACUBE-1 was sealed in a specialised container and packaged in a custom-built case. The case was carefully placed into a wooden crate that was sealed with metal bands.

On Thursday the package will be flown to the Netherlands, where it will be delivered to Innovative Solutions In Space (ISIS), a launching agent located in Delft.

Here, ZACUBE-1 will undergo a “satellite checkout” by F’SATI staff members Charles Jooste and Leon Steenkamp.

Jooste says this process, which will take place on 2 September, is one of the final critical processes that ZACUBE-1 will undergo.

“A satellite checkout involves taking the satellite out of the packaging and placing it in a pod (specialised box) with other satellites,” says Jooste.

The cluster of satellites will then make their way to Russia, where they will be attached to the launch vehicle.

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.

Today (21 November) marks four years since the launch of CPUT’s TshepisoSAT (code-named ZACUBE-1) from Yasny Launch Base in Russia.

“At four years, ZACUBE-1 has far exceeded the average lifespan of a typical CubeSat, and demonstrates the unique capabilities of the CPUT satellite development team,” says Prof Robert van Zyl, Director of the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) and the Africa Space Innovation Centre.The launch of TshepisoSAT was an historic event that has led to a cascade of developments spearheaded by the F’SATI

They include the development and marketing internationally of advanced CubeSat radio systems to an expanding customer base. More than a hundred such systems have been exported, many of which are currently deployed on CubeSats orbiting in space. Cutting-edge technologies for ship tracking and forest fire detection are also being developed by the team in partnerships with leading South African companies.

The F’SATI team is currently working on ZACUBE-2, which will be launched in May 2018. This mission is funded by the Department of Science and Technology and the South African National Space Agency, and will be the most advanced South African CubeSat to date. The satellite is a precursor mission for constellations of CubeSats that will provide maritime communications in support of Operation Phakisa. The satellite ground station on the roof of the DEECE building will be upgraded in preparation for the launch of ZACUBE-2.

CPUT is also recognised internationally as a hub for CubeSat development and operations. PlanetLabs, a US-based global player in the CubeSat industry, has recently contracted the university to provide ground support for its missions. PlanetLabs manages more than 200 CubeSats in space and requires ground support from stations dotting the globe. “The technical support we provide to PlanetLabs missions will provide fertile ground for learning. We’re also ensuring a third stream income for the university through providing services to industry,” says Van Zyl.

If you are interested in joining the dynamic F’SATI team, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We offer undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate training in our state of the art laboratories.

Written by Abigail Calata

The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) is calling on high school learners to name ZACUBE- 1, South Africa’s first nanosatellite.

Developed by staff and students at the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) at CPUT, ZACUBE-1 will be launched into space this November from a launch base in Russia.

The satellite carries a scientific experiment from the South African National Space Agency’s Directorate in Hermanus, which will allow it to collect information that will be used by scientists to gain an understanding of space weather and its impact on communication technology.

The “Naming a Cubesat Competition” is part of SAASTA’s public awareness programmes, which are aimed at creating public interest and an appreciation for science, engineering and technology in South African communities.

Through this competition, the organization, which is a business unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF), hopes to expose learners to the possibilities of careers in the space sector.

The competition is open to Grade 9 to 12 learners who are asked to come up with a name that must have a South African context. Each entry must contain a short description of 200 words explaining its significance.

Prizes up for grabs include iPads, laptops and a trip to the South African National Space Agency facilities in South Africa.    

Entries close 30 October 2013.

For more information and to enter the competition visit the SAASTA website.

Written by Marick Hornsveld

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.

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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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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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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As the global community celebrates World Space Week, the CPUT is currently developing its fourth satellite mission, called M2MSat.

The M2MSat follows on from the University’s successful development, launch and operation of the ZACube-1 and ZACube-2 satellite missions. The Institution also developed the MDASat-1 constellation which is scheduled for launch this summer to demonstrate its current Automatic Identification System (AIS) capabilities in a constellation.

Africa Space Innovation Centre and French South African Institute of Technology (F'SATI) Director, Prof Robert van Zyl highlights the importance of the Operation Phakisa, a fast-track implementation of the South African National Development Plan, which focuses on two key areas; ocean economy and healthcare.  “With the expansion of South African waters, a special need is emerging for effective Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).”

M2MSat is being built on this heritage by focusing on MDA, expanding the on-orbit data gathering capacity of the payload and adding payload features. “The M2MSat mission will continue growing expertise within CPUT and its key technology partners and validate the technology innovations that result from it, Van Zyl explains.

Earlier this year, the University successfully presented M2MSat’s Preliminary Design Review (PDR) to its stakeholders. The Software-Defined Radio payload also passed its Critical Design Review (CDR) phase in June 2021. 

“It is envisaged that the launch of the M2MSat constellation can be at the end of 2022 or early 2023.”

He says the M2MSat consists of two 3U form factor CubeSat nanosatellites, each carrying a payload designed to track ships in the South African Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Van Zyl adds that the M2MSat mission will demonstrate the very high frequency (VHF) Data Exchange System (VDES) capabilities of a new Software Defined Radio (SDR) payload for satellite-to-ship and ship-to-satellite communication. “The M2MSat mission hosts an improved payload compared to ZACube-2 and MDASat-1. Some of the additional improvements are that the SDR payload can transmit and receive in the marine VHF band.

“A portal (website) shall also be implemented as part of the ground segment to allow end-users to upload and download Data Exchange System (VDE)S data to and from maritime nodes,” Van Zyl remarks. The M2MSat mission is funded by the Technology Innovation Agency which is an agency of the Department of Science and Innovation.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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