SANSA’s Research team leads fundamental and applied research in space science. With 11 PhD-level researchers and 11 professional space weather forecasters, the unit produces internationally recognised work in fields such as: Solar-terrestrial interactions, Plasma physics and ionospheric dynamics, Radio wave propagation and scintillation modelling, Geomagnetic storms and field modelling, Particle precipitation and atmospheric discharges.

Researchers are encouraged to pursue both blue-sky science and mission-driven research, including the development of space weather data products.

SANSA maintains strong international ties, contributing data and expertise to global networks like the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN), the International Space Environment Service (ISES), InterMagnet, and the Global Ionospheric Radio Observatory (DIDBase). Much of SANSA’s observational data is available through the South African National Geophysical Data and Instrumentation Management System (SANDIMS).