[vc_row row_type=”content_menu” el_id=”Overview”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg” css=”.vc_custom_1534241765222{padding-top: 14px !important;padding-bottom: 14px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1612188470290{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 14px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 14px !important;background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/trans-background.png?id=55) !important;}”]
Overview
The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) came into being in December 2010, but South Africa’s involvement with space research and activities started many decades earlier with helping early international space efforts in the second half of the 20th century, and observing the Earth’s magnetic field at stations around Southern Africa.
SANSA was created to promote the use of space and strengthen cooperation in space-related activities while fostering research in space science, advancing scientific engineering through developing human capital, and supporting industrial development in space technologies.
The research and work carried out at SANSA focuses on space science, engineering and technology that can promote development, build human capital and provide important national services. Much of this work involves monitoring the Earth and our surrounding environment, and using the collected data to ensure that navigation, communication technology and weather forecasting services function as intended.
SANSA’s Head Office in Pretoria oversees SANSA operations and management the Earth Observation programme (currently based in Hartebeesthoek); the Space Operations programme (formerly the Satellite Application Centre, located in Hartebeesthoek); and the Space Science programme (former Hermanus Magnetic Observatory, located in Hermanus); as well as a newly-established Space Engineering programme situated alongside the Head Office.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”32″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1534169998213{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/trans-background.png?id=55) !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”2033″ alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600433008906{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}”]
SANSA’s Vision is An integrated national space capability that responds to socio-economic challenges in Africa by 2030.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”32″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1534169998213{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/trans-background.png?id=55) !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”2031″ alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600433039409{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}”]
SANSA’s Mission is To provide leadership in unlocking the potential of space for the advancement and benefit of humanity.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”32″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1534169998213{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/trans-background.png?id=55) !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”2032″ alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1534452666703{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}”]
SANSA’s ‘STRIPE’ Values are core to the visionary and innovative culture that supports the achievement of its mandate:
Service | deliver superior customer value on time every time
Teamwork | consult, inform and share knowledge
Respect | acknowledge and value what is good
Integrity | keep promises and own up to mistakes
Personal Growth | acknowledge potential and grow competence
Excellence | go the extra mile and implement tasks to the best of our ability
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”parallax” parallax_content_width=”in_grid” anchor=”Overview” text_align=”left” background_image=”2374″ full_screen_section_height=”no”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1534241203627{padding-top: 64px !important;padding-bottom: 64px !important;}” offset=”vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1622192566929{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/trans-background.png?id=55) !important;}”]
Overview
The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) came into being in December 2010, but South Africa’s involvement with space research and activities started many decades earlier with helping early international space efforts in the second half of the 20th century, and observing the Earth’s magnetic field at stations around Southern Africa.
SANSA was created to promote the use of space and strengthen cooperation in space-related activities while fostering research in space science, advancing scientific engineering through developing human capital, and supporting industrial development in space technologies.
The research and work carried out at SANSA focuses on space science, engineering and technology that can promote development, build human capital and provide important national services. Much of this work involves monitoring the Earth and our surrounding environment, and using the collected data to ensure that navigation, communication technology and weather forecasting services function as intended.
SANSA’s Head Office in Pretoria oversees SANSA operations and management the Earth Observation programme (currently based in Hartebeesthoek); the Space Operations programme (formerly the Satellite Application Centre, located in Hartebeesthoek); and the Space Science programme (former Hermanus Magnetic Observatory, located in Hermanus); as well as a newly-established Space Engineering programme situated alongside the Head Office.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”32″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1534242213488{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/trans-background.png?id=55) !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”2033″ qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_empty_space height=”26″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1596188116962{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}”]
SANSA’s Vision statement for repositioning the South African space programme is: An integrated National Space Capability that responds to socio-economic challenges in Africa by 2030
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”32″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1534169998213{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/trans-background.png?id=55) !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_empty_space height=”26″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1622192737595{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}”]SANSA’s Mission statement for what it is the South African space programme does is: To provide leadership in unlocking the potential of Space for the advancement and benefit of humanity.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”2031″ qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”32″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1534169998213{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/trans-background.png?id=55) !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_empty_space height=”64″][vc_single_image image=”2032″ qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1534674409875{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}”]SANSA’s ‘STRIPE’ Values are core to its effective transformation into a high-performing agency:
Service | deliver superior customer value on time every time
Teamwork | consult, inform and share knowledge
Respect | acknowledge and value what is good
Integrity | keep promises and own up to mistakes
Personal Growth | acknowledge potential and grow competence
Excellence | go the extra mile and implement tasks to the best of our ability[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”32″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”Programmes” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” el_id=”Programmes”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1534242919314{padding-top: 32px !important;padding-bottom: 32px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1528121073901{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}” el_id=”Programmes”]
Programmes
SANSA operations fall into four programme areas: Earth Observation, Space Engineering, Space Operations, and Space Science.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”#Programmes” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”428″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”element_from_left”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]Earth Observation collects, processes, archives, and disseminates Earth observation data (principally from satellites) to support policy-making, decision-making, economic growth and sustainable development in South Africa. Their activities align with South African and global Earth observation strategies to provide data services and products that promote socioeconomic benefits, like environmental and resource management, disaster management and health. Data and value-added remote sensing services produced by the division are used for research and development, human capital development and science advancement in geo-informatics, image and data processing, and remote sensing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”#Programmes” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1534242859499{padding-right: 60px !important;padding-left: 60px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”428″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”element_from_left”][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_column_text]Earth Observation collects, processes, archives, and disseminates Earth observation data (principally from satellites) to support policy-making, decision-making, economic growth and sustainable development in South Africa. Their activities align with South African and global Earth observation strategies to provide data services and products that promote socioeconomic benefits, like environmental and resource management, disaster management and health. Data and value-added remote sensing services produced by the division are used for research and development, human capital development and science advancement in geo-informatics, image and data processing and remote sensing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]Space Engineering develops, builds and tests systems and sub-systems for satellites. The aim is develop and launch South Africa’s own satellites, while growing the human and technological capacity for satellite development, and supporting a native South African satellite industry. Developing this capacity will catalyse a range of advanced manufacturing activities in South Africa, thereby driving socioeconomic development.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”426″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”element_from_left”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg”][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1534243009193{padding-right: 60px !important;padding-left: 60px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”426″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”element_from_left”][vc_column_text]Space Engineering develops, builds and tests systems and sub-systems for satellites. The aim is develop and launch South Africa’s own satellites, while growing the human and technological capacity for satellite development and supporting a native South African satellite industry. Developing this capacity will catalyse a range of advanced manufacturing activities in South Africa, driving socioeconomic development.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”430″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”element_from_right”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]Space Operations provides state-of-the-art and globally competitive ground station facilities and services for global launch activities. This includes satellite tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C), launch support, in-orbit testing, mission control and space navigation. SANSA ensures the presence of a world-class ground station on the African continent, and has been providing these services since the 1950s. The programme also conducts applied research, development and innovation in space operations and helps develop people in this sector.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg”][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1534243069436{padding-right: 60px !important;padding-left: 60px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”430″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”element_from_right”][vc_column_text]Space Operations provides state-of-the-art and globally competitive ground station facilities and services for global launch activities. This includes satellite tracking, telemetry and command; other services included are launch support, in-orbit testing, mission control and space navigation. SANSA ensures the presence of a world-class ground station on the African continent, and has been providing these services since the 1950s. The programme also conducts applied research, development and innovation in space operations and helps develop people in this sector as well.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]Space Science operates a wide range of infrastructure across southern Africa and in Antarctica, all dedicated to studying the Earth’s magnetic field, the Sun and the near-space environment. SANSA maintains several space science and space weather projects in Antarctica, as well as on Marion and Gough Islands, providing valuable space science data for national and international research. The Space Science programme also hosts the only Space Weather Warning Centre in Africa, providing early warnings and forecasts on space weather activity for public and private sector clients. This helps protect satellite technology, as well as communication and navigation systems in aviation and defence. These facilities form part of several global observation networks, and research at the programme focuses on fundamental and applied space physics research.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”429″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”element_from_right”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”64″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg”][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1534243118731{padding-right: 60px !important;padding-left: 60px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”429″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”element_from_right”][vc_column_text]Space Science operates a wide range of infrastructure across southern Africa and in Antarctica, all dedicated to studying the Earth’s magnetic field, the Sun and the near-space environment. SANSA maintains several space science and space weather projects in Antarctica, as well as on Marion and Gough Islands, providing valuable space science data for national and international research. The Space Science programme also hosts the only Space Weather Warning Centre in Africa, providing early warnings and forecasts on space weather activity for public and private sector clients. This helps protect satellite technology, as well as communication and navigation systems in aviation and defence. These facilities form part of several global observation networks, and research at the programme focuses on fundamental and applied space physics research.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_single_image image=”425″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”element_from_left”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″ offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]Human Capital Development is a strategic focus at SANSA, as growth and transformation of the industry in South Africa is a priority for Government. The agency also has an important role to play in growing and supporting academia and industrial skills development to ensure a sustainable and thriving space industry in South Africa.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″ offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]Science engagement and outreach uses the excitement and mystery of space to create excitement and interest, increasing the number of students interested in studying Mathematics and Science at school and tertiary level, thus creating the future Space Agency leaders it needs and driving the South African knowledge economy forward. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_single_image image=”427″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”element_from_right”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”parallax” parallax_content_width=”in_grid” anchor=”History” text_align=”left” background_image=”2374″ full_screen_section_height=”no” el_id=”History”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1534243421773{padding-top: 32px !important;padding-bottom: 64px !important;}” offset=”vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_empty_space height=”32″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1534675594129{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/trans-background.png?id=55) !important;}” el_id=”history”]
History
Since the advent of the space age in 1957, South Africa has established a reputation for accuracy and reliability in the international space community. Today, SANSA is using the benefits of space science and technology to help grow and develop the African region.
SANSA’s official history is a short one, dating back to the South African National Space Agency Act of 2008 and the organisation’s official inception on December 9th 2010. But the roots of SANSA’s various programmes and facilities reach deep into the past, in some cases to before even the global space race of the 1950s.
As far back as 1841, there was a Magnetic Observatory operating at the University of Cape Town. That Observatory joined an international network of observatories as part of the International Commission for the Polar Year in 1932. It was relocated to Hermanus in 1940 when the advent of an electric railway system began interfering with magnetic measurements in Cape Town.
The Observatory was involved in several international space science events, which culminated in the first South African Antarctic Expedition (SANAE 1) in 1960, where South African researchers took over the Norwegian station and took responsibility for magnetic and auroral observations in Antarctica.
In the same year, the facility at Hartebeesthoek became one of NASA’s 14 Satellite Tracking and Data Acquisition Network (STADAN) stations established around the globe. In 1975, NASA withdrew its involvement due to political instability and within a year, the CSIR established the Satellite Remote Sensing Centre (SRSC) at Hartebeesthoek. In 1980, the French National Space Agency (CNES) tracking station at Hammanskraal outside Pretoria was relocated to Hartebeesthoek and integrated with the SRSC. This became the Satellite Applications Centre (SAC) in a CSIR-wide re-organisation in 1989.
In more than 50 years of operations at Hartebeesthoek, the facility has overseen hundreds of launches and provided continuous telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) services for polar orbiting and geostationary satellites to space agencies and aerospace companies around the globe, including NASA, CNES, Boeing, Hughes, Intelsat and many others.
Also located at Hartebeesthoek at the time, the Earth Observation team had been receiving and processing satellite data since the first transmissions were received from Meteosat 1 in 1978. In the late 1980s, the antennae at Hartebeesthoek were upgraded to receive very high resolution images from NASA’s Landsat and the French SPOT satellites, as well as the French Earth-resources satellite, allowing the recording of 1:50 000 scale images for the first time.
To date, the archives have more than 150 terabytes of remote sensing data.
In 2008, the South African National Space Agency Act of 2008 was passed, aiming to bring all of South Africa’s space activities under one roof. The act mandated the formation of SANSA, and the agency was officially launched in 2010.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”32″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”parallax” parallax_content_width=”in_grid” anchor=”History” text_align=”left” background_image=”2374″ full_screen_section_height=”no”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1534240021154{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;background-image: url(/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/trans-background.png?id=55) !important;}”]
History
Since the advent of the space age in 1957, South Africa has established a reputation for accuracy and reliability in the international space community. Today, SANSA is using the benefits of space science and technology to help grow and develop the African region.
SANSA’s official history is a short one, dating back to the South African National Space Agency Act of 2008 and the organisation’s official inception on December 9th 2010. But the roots of SANSA’s various programmes and facilities reach deep into the past, in some cases to before even the global space race of the 1950s.
As far back as 1841, there was a Magnetic Observatory operating at the University of Cape Town. That Observatory joined an international network of observatories as part of the International Commission for the Polar Year in 1932. It was relocated to Hermanus in 1940 when the advent of an electric railway system began interfering with magnetic measurements in Cape Town.
The Observatory was involved in several international space science events, which culminated in the first South African Antarctic Expedition (SANAE 1) in 1960, where South African researchers took over the Norwegian station and took responsibility for magnetic and auroral observations in Antarctica.
In the same year, the facility at Hartebeesthoek became one of NASA’s 14 Satellite Tracking and Data Acquisition Network (STADAN) stations established around the globe. In 1975, NASA withdrew its involvement due to political instability and within a year, the CSIR established the Satellite Remote Sensing Centre (SRSC) at Hartebeesthoek. In 1980, the French National Space Agency (CNES) tracking station at Hammanskraal outside Pretoria was relocated to Hartebeesthoek and integrated with the SRSC. This became the Satellite Applications Centre (SAC) in a CSIR-wide re-organisation in 1989.
In more than 50 years of operations at Hartebeesthoek, the facility has overseen hundreds of launches and provided continuous telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) services for polar orbiting and geostationary satellites to space agencies and aerospace companies around the globe, including NASA, CNES, Boeing, Hughes, Intelsat and many others.
Also located at Hartebeesthoek at the time, the Earth Observation team had been receiving and processing satellite data since the first transmissions were received from Meteosat 1 in 1978. In the late 1980s, the antennae at Hartebeesthoek were upgraded to receive very high resolution images from NASA’s Landsat and the French SPOT satellites as well as the French Earth-resources satellite, allowing recording of 1:50 000 scale images for the first time.
To date, the archives have more than 150 terabytes of remote sensing data.
In 2008, the South African National Space Agency Act of 2008 was passed, aiming to bring all of South Africa’s space activities under one roof. The act mandated the formation of SANSA, and the agency was officially launched in 2010.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” anchor=”Timeline” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” background_color=”#ffffff” z_index=”” css=”.vc_custom_1530116679697{padding-right: 40px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}” el_id=”Timeline”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1534243639344{padding-top: 64px !important;padding-bottom: 64px !important;}” offset=”vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_empty_space height=”32″][vc_column_text el_id=”timeline”]
Timeline
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Cool Timeline
Timeline
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Cool Timeline
Impact
Since it’s inception, SANSA has built partnerships with international organisations, grown capacity and infrastructure to do world-class space science research, and started work on South Africa’s third satellite, EO-Sat1.
The Space Weather Centre at Hermanus, launched in 2011, provided critical updates and warnings for African stakeholders during the period of Solar Maximum (a regular period of greater solar activity within the 11-year solar cycle). In 2014, SANSA opened the first non-magnetic temperature chamber in southern Africa, which assists spacecraft manufacturers with improving the navigation functionality of spacecraft, for example to position a satellite in its final geosynchronous orbit around the Earth. SANSA also deployed a new high frequency (HF) radar at SANAE IV in Antarctica in 2014, as part of the global Super Dual Aurora Radar Network (SuperDARN), and recently completed the state-of-the-art Optical Space Research Laboratory (OSR) at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Sutherland. This facility will provide crucial space science data to meet national and international obligations, raise the standard of South African research, and improve our understanding of the Earth’s middle and upper atmosphere.
SANSA has produced a number of Earth observation and other data products for public use or for specific stakeholders. These include an Informal Settlement Atlas, an annual country mosaic based on satellite images, a flood risk map that supports an early warning system, and a human settlements map layer that supports spatial planning and service delivery projects. The Earth Observation programme has also maintained the Online Catalogue for data discovery and dissemination.
SANSA was involved in TT&C, operations and data capture for SumbandilaSat, a weather microsatellite launched by Stellenbosch University, SunSpace and the CSIR in 2009. Despite being damaged by a solar storm in 2011, SumbandilaSat has completed over 9000 orbits, and SANSA has monitored in the region of 1300 passes. The satellite produced good quality images, some of which have contributed to the European GMES programme. Perhaps more importantly, it demonstrated capabilities important for the future of South Africa’s space programme; lessons learned during the programme are now being applied to EO-Sat1, South Africa’s first Earth observation satellite, due for launch in 2019.
Lastly, SANSA has built strong international relationships through launch support for NASA, CNES and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), among others, as well as through partnerships with organisations like Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) and Avanti Communications.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”32″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”Impact” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1534243609443{padding-top: 32px !important;padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 32px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}” offset=”vc_hidden-lg”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1534268168810{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}”]
Impact
Since it’s inception, SANSA has built partnerships with international organisations, grown capacity and infrastructure to do world-class space science research, and started work on South Africa’s third satellite, EO-Sat1.
The Space Weather Centre at Hermanus, launched in 2011, provided critical updates and warnings for African stakeholders during the period of Solar Maximum. In 2014, SANSA opened the first non-magnetic temperature chamber in Southern Africa which assists spacecraft manufacturers to improve the navigation functionality of spacecraft, for example to position a satellite in its final geosynchronous orbit around the Earth. SANSA also deployed a new HF radar at SANAE IV in Antarctica in 2014, as part of the global Super Dual Aurora Radar Network (SuperDARN), and recently completed the state-of-the-art Optical Space Research Laboratory (OSR) at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Sutherland. This facility will provide crucial space science data to meet national and international obligations, raise the standard of South African research, and improve our understanding of the Earth’s middle and upper atmosphere.
Since its inception in 2010, SANSA has produced a number of Earth observation and other data products for public use or for specific stakeholders. These include an Informal Settlement Atlas, an annual country mosaic based on satellite images, a flood risk map that supports an early warning system, and a human settlements map layer that supports spatial planning and service delivery projects. The Earth Observation programme has also maintained the Online Catalogue for data discovery and dissemination.
SANSA was involved in TT&C, operations and data capture for SumbandilaSat, a weather microsatellite launched by Stellenbosch University, SunSpace and the CSIR in 2009. Despite being damaged by a solar storm in 2011, SumbandilaSat has completed over 9000 orbits, and SANSA has monitored in the region of 1300 passes. The satellite produced good quality images, some of which have contributed to the European GMES programme. Perhaps more importantly, it demonstrated capabilities important for the future of South Africa’s space programme; lessons learned during the programme are now being applied to EO-Sat1, South Africa’s first Earth observation satellite, due for launch in 2019.
Lastly, SANSA has built strong international relationships through launch support for NASA, CNES and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), among others, as well as through partnerships with organisations like Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) and Avanti Communications.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” anchor=”People” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” background_color=”#ffffff” z_index=”” el_id=”People” css=”.vc_custom_1534243895759{padding-right: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1534244045227{padding-top: 64px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”12″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1528119144619{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}” el_id=”people”]
People
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SANSA Board as at September 2022
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”32″][qode_content_slider auto_rotate=”0″ enable_drag=”yes” direction_nav=”yes” control_nav=”no” control_nav_justify=”no” pause_on_hover=”yes”][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12805″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Patrick Ndlovu- Board Chairman
Patrick is an Aerospace Executive with over 22 years of experience in the Aeronautics and Space Sectors, having worked at Armscor SOC, Denel SOC, ATNS SOC. He has served as the General Manager for Spaceteq, Executive Manager for Missiles, UAV and Space at Denel Dynamics. Patrick also served in the DSI Task Team on Space Launch Capability Feasibility Study and is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Satellite Communication & Navigation CoP in NEOSS.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12801″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Jessie Ndaba
She co-founded Astrofica and is Co-chair for the SatComms and Navigation Community of Practice at NEOSS. She has worked as part of the technical team that developed the Aerospace, Space and Defense Masterplan for the Department of Public Enterprises as well as the team that worked on the Industry Development Policy Framework for the dtic.
Jessie is a member of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) and the African Space Leadership Youth Forum.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12803″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Lumka Msibi
Ms Lumka Msibi is an innovative, award-winning qualified rocket scientist and a Senior Aerospace Systems Engineer with over 5 years of global experience, with a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Certificate in Aerospace Studies from the University of South Australia and ISU (Australia). She has held various positions in a major aerospace company in South Africa and at NASA in the USA. At the age of 24 she had travelled to all six continents, won numerous prestigious awards and spoken alongside many notable leaders. As the youngest board member appointed by a South African Minister across all government entities, Msibi brings a unique perspective to the board. She provides knowledge and expertise in engineering, strategy, innovation and technology.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12800″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Benjamin Francois Denner
Director and Owner of The Enceladus Group, a strategic consulting company focused on industrial development and trade facilitation challenges; Serves as a Director on ZASPACE. Francois has provided technical advisory services to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB, a Federal Institute of Germany), in various trade capacity development programmes (ref. Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, SADC Member States, COMESA Member State) and has and is a member of various Boards and Advisory committees.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12806″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]ADV. Lindelwa Ndziba
Advocate Ndziba holds extensive executive and board experience spanning over 23 years in the public and regulatory sectors. She will bring to the SANSA board her expertise in strategic decision making, board governance, law, risk management and human resources including remuneration, talent/people management, performance management, employment equity and change management.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12831″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]ADV. Lufuno Tokyo Nevondwe
Senior Lecturer at University of Limpopo and has supervised more than 40 Dissertations. Lufono is an External Examiner for LLM dissertations for University of South Africa (Unisa) and Wits University. Lufono has sat as member on numerous Boards, Advisory committees as well as Audit & Risk committees.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12826″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Molawa Ngoetjana
As a Systems Engineer, Molawa currently holds the key position of Mission Systems Engineer for SanDock Austral Shipyards. He is a registered candidate Electronic Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) specializing in Systems Engineering (SE) and an active member of the International Council on System Engineering (INCOSE).
As INCOSE SA Programmes officer, he is intimately involved in promoting SE to young people and practices SE on a daily basis.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12811″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Professor Azwinndini Muronga
Professor Azwinndini Muronga completed his BSc in Physics and Mathematics at the University of Venda, a MSc in Physics at the University of Cape Town as well as a PhD in Physics from the University of Minnesota, USA. He was previously a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town, an Associate Professor of Physics and Director of the Science Centre at the University of Johannesburg. He is currently the Immediate Past President of the South African Institute of Physics and represents South Africa and Africa on the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) C11 Commission on Particles and Fields, as well as serving as Chair of the judging panel for Mathematics and Physics category of the Global Undergraduates Awards (UA). He reviews of academic programmes, exams, theses and dissertations, project proposals and journal articles. He is currently the Executive Dean of Science at the Nelson Mandela University and through this position he continues to play a leading role in science teaching, learning, research, and engagement.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12812″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Advocate Icho Kealotswe-Matlou
Advocate Icho Kealotswe-Matlou (LLB) (LLM) is a member of the Johannesburg Bar. Kealotswe-Matlou is a highly experienced lawyer, an independent legal researcher, policy analyst and an advocate for Space Law. She completed her LLM magna cum laude at the University of Pretoria in 2015 focusing on International, Aviation, Space and Telecommunications Law in collaboration with the Institute of Air and Space Law, University of Cologne, Germany. In her current practice she provides litigation support on a wide variety of aerospace business issues. She researches, analyses and evaluates the legal, regulatory, policy and political framework applicable to domestic and international space activities. Her research entails reviews of civil government and agency guidance documents and directives.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12833″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Tlou Ramaru
Chief Director: Climate Change and Adaptation (Sustainable Development) represents the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. Mr Ramaru have approximately 18 years’ institutional knowledge and served as SMS member for approximately 11 years. He has chaired the sixth committee on of Food Security and Sustainable development under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and coordinated South Africa’s engagement in the United Nation Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) attended by Heads of State amongst other accolades.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12835″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Nkhangweni Rambau
Director and founder of Big Idea Corporate Training and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd (BankSETA accredited) and a qualified business executive with international experience and demonstrated ability to engage stakeholders across the value chain. Experienced in the following fields: ICT (Data Analytics, ICT Contracting and Supplier Relations, Assets Management, ICT Infrastructure Management), Biodegradable chemicals, Renewable Energy (Solar), Education and Training, agriculture (primary agriculture) and Agro-processing, Industrial Symbiosis Researcher, Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Deal-making (capital raising). Director and founder of Tenacity Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Foundation NPO and Mukhuthu Arts and Cultural Foundation NPO. He obtained the following qualifications: Executive Development Program – EDP (WBS), Masters in Information Technology (UP), Masters in Business Leadership (Unisa SBL), Bachelor of Arts and University Education Diploma (UNIVEN), Diploma in IT (UJ), The Expert Negotiator (GIBS) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (Microsoft).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12837″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Charlotte Segage
Charlotte is a qualified chartered accountant who is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. She has over 12 years’ experience in public sector audit from the Auditor-General of South Africa. She completed her articles at the Auditor-General of South Africa where she proceeded to become an assistant management and went through the ranks to becoming a Senior Manager.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13648″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Nomfuneko Majaja
Ms Nomfuneko Majaja has over her 30-year career inclusive of involvement in Public Administration & Management, academia, Industry development and advisory as well as international partnerships amongst others gained the following management and leadership skills. She has experience in national economic policy development and strategy processes and specifically in aerospace, outer space and electro-technical sectors. Ms Majaja has led the development of the
National Space Policy, which provides guidelines to all space stakeholders as well as domestication of the UN Liability & Registration Conventions. Ms Majaja together with her DSI counterpart lead the development of the Aerospace Sector Development and establishment of the Joint Aerospace Sector Committee. She has led and implemented a number of industry interventions for the advanced manufacturing sectors in support of industrial growth and its competitiveness.
She is currently the Chief Director: Space Affairs at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti). She has represented the dti and served as a Vice chairperson of the South African Council for Space Affairs since 2008 and member of the Ad hoc Committee for the review of the Space Affairs Act No. 84 of 1993. as well as the member of the Policy & Legal Committee of the Council. Ms Majaja holds a Master’s degree in Development Economics from Williams College in Massachusetts (MA) USA, a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree (B. Com Hons) in Economics from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a B. Com degree majoring in Industrial Psychology and Economics.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][/qode_content_slider][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css=”.vc_custom_1534244277644{background-color: #ffffff !important;}” z_index=””][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_empty_space height=”72″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” background_color=”#ffffff” z_index=”” css=”.vc_custom_1534243906279{padding-right: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1534244113241{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 64px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1534171920457{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;}”]
SANSA Executive Team
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”32″][qode_content_slider auto_rotate=”0″ enable_drag=”yes” direction_nav=”yes” control_nav=”no” control_nav_justify=”no” pause_on_hover=”yes”][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13397″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text] Mr. Humbulani Mudau | CEO
| Humbulani Mudau has over 20 years of technical and management experience in Space Science and Technology, particularly in Earth Observation systems, space technology development, as well as remote sensing, and geospatial applications. Mr Mudau has vast experience in inter-governmental, interagency, regional, global and international space diplomacy while lobbying on policy issues and resource mobilisation for national and international projects. Over the years, he has led at executive level, showcasing his robust and concrete capabilities in project designing, implementing and evaluating international projects with diverse stakeholders. In his capacity as the senior scientific representative at GEO Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, he conceptualised the African Group on Earth Observations (AfriGEO) initiative. Later on as the Chief Director of Space Science and Technology in the South African government, he was responsible for the implementation of the Department of Science and Technology’s 10 year Innovation Plan – that included the National Space Strategy and South African Earth Observation Strategy (SAEOS) – as well as the establishment of the of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and the National Earth Observation and Space Secretariat, among many other initiatives. |
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13006″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Ms. Sibongile Mazibuko | Executive Director | Enterprise Services
With a career spanning over 18 years in various Executive Management roles, having held positions at the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) as the Executive Manager of South Africa Infrastructure Funding Division; DBSA Development Fund and DBSA Vulindlela Academy as the Chief Operations Officer and Executive Director; Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) as the Chief Operations Officer.
Her qualifications include a Masters in Science (MSc) Corporate Governance, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, Bachelor of Administration in Social Science and a Senior Executive Development Programme. Her key competencies include Strategic Facilitation, Project Management, Risk Management, Labour relations, Corporate Governance, Coaching and Mentorship.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”492″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Dr. Lee-Anne McKinnell | Managing Director: Space Science
Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell has been Managing Director responsible for the Space Science Programme within SANSA since 2010, prior to which she was a Researcher with a joint position at the previous Hermanus Magnetic Observatory and Rhodes University. McKinnell holds a PhD in Space Physics from Rhodes University and an MBA from the Business School Netherlands. She has extensive international research experience, and represents SANSA and South Africa on a number of international and national committees in the Space Science and Technology field.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”493″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Mr. Raoul Hodges | Managing Director: Space Operations
Mr Raoul Hodges has worked at the Hartebeesthoek facility since 1987, and is responsible for the operational management of the Telemetry, Tracking & Command (TT&C) as well as the Earth Observation Centre at Hartebeesthoek. During this period he managed several international projects and negotiations for satellite data. This data is being widely used in South Africa as well as the SADC region, specifically the Spot 5 open access contract, which has been serving the Earth observation community for more than last five years. He has engaged with many international space agencies to invest and co-locate ground segment equipment at Hartebeesthoek to enhance the visibility of the South African role in the international space sector.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13063″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Mr. Brighton Jena | CFO
Brighton Jena CA(SA) is a qualified chartered accountant with over 25 years’ experience.
He completed his articles with Ernst & Young and subsequently held several senior executive roles. Brighton was previously a Corporate Finance Executive involved in M&A and subsequently held Group Chief Financial Officer roles at Imara Holdings Limited, Tech Holdings Limited and Unifi Group where he gained vast regional and global experience in the financial services and technology sectors.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13651″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Ms. Asanda Sangoni | Acting MD | EO[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][qode_content_slider_item][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”13652″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”16″][vc_column_text]Mr. Tebogo Mokgalagadi | Acting Executive: Space Engineering | SPD[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/qode_content_slider_item][/qode_content_slider][/vc_column][/vc_row]
