SA space industry poised to take off
THE South African space industry has capabilities of manufacturing small satellites, satellite components, products and services to enable the achievement of sustainable development goals.
This was said by SCS Aerospace Group managing director Francois Denner, during a panel discussion on Space and Industries at the UNISPACE+50 Symposium in Vienna, Austria.
The 61st session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is under way until Friday. Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Bulelani Magwanishe was also in attendance.
“The space industry’s focus on partnerships and collaboration with a clear commercialisation focus will be a definite enhancement of the space industry and would fast-track the achievement of sustainable development goals,” said Denner.
Meanwhile, the South African National Space Agency (Sansa) and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on co-operation in the exploration and use of space for peaceful purposes.
The MoU seeks to establish a non-binding framework for pursuing co-operation between the two parties.
It will promote and organise the exchange of information and technical expertise, and co-operative activities. The chief executive officer of Sansa, Dr Val Munsami, said: “Part of our mandate is to assist in developing the local industry through sourcing out work that we intend doing to the local industry, and in that way it stimulates the industry. We also work with a few start-ups, especially black-empowered start-ups.
“When we look at relations and investments like these, we have these in mind.”
Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills UAE, DrAhmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul al-Falasi, said he looked forward to identifying more areas of co-operation.