"In service of humanity"

Mankind's age-old fascination with space and its exploration extends beyond cultures, borders and generations. There is global agreement that the exploration of space and application of space technologies is essential to solving most of the challenges that society is facing, and will face in the future.

As a technologically advancing country, South Africa is increasingly reliant on space-based services and applications, particularly in satellite earth observations, telecommunications, navigational positioning and timing.

The importance of space science and technology is confirmed by the Department of Science and Technology's Ten-Year Innovation Plan and South Africa's National Space Strategy. Creating a robust and effective space capability will increase South Africa's economic prosperity. Sharing space-related scientific and engineering knowledge is critical to developing human capital for a stronger technological base within South Africa's space industry.

The establishment of SANSA - the South African National Space Agency - is set to coordinate and manage space activities in South Africa and create a wealth of economic opportunities and human capacity building programmes.

The benefits to society of space research and support services are numerous!

• Monitoring our land-use practices from space, for example, enables interventions to maintain, enhance and sustain our natural resources.