CPUT partnership produces satellite

SOLVING world problems was part of the motivation for engineering students involved in the creation of the ZACUBE-2, South Africa’s second nanosatellite at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).

The nanosatellite was developed by the acclaimed French South African Institute (F’SATI) at CPUT Satellite Programme and will be launched into space later this year.

Arthur Mbunda was one of 65 engineering students studying towards their PhD who developed the satellite, which was presented to Minister of Science and Technology Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, French ambassador Christophe Farnaud and pupils from surrounding schools yesterday.

Mabunda said the technology engineered for the satellite would enable them to detect forest and veld fires through its advanced camera.

“This was from hard work from all of us, having to engineer and put it all together from scratch to not only detect veld fires but watch our coastal regions and track vessels.

“For a kid from a the village in Giyani in Limpopo to present to a minister and an ambassador, I hope the young people can see what hard work and passion can bring you,” said Mabunda.

ZACube-1, called TshepisoSat, was launched in 2013 for space weather research. Through the French-South African co-operation in satellite engineering, it has continued with the completion of ZACube-2.

The nanosatellite will be shipped to the Netherlands, where it will be integrated with other CubeSats before going to India, where it will be launched later this year.

F’SATI director Professor Robert van Zyl said the programme stemmed from the Operation Phakisa initiative of the government. He said this was but another step in the overall mission to have future satellite constellations to assist the country and the continents in monitoring its maritime domains, vessels and fires.

Kubayi-Ngubane said she was excited to see the young people at the forefront of innovation and hoped the pupils in attendance would learn from their example.

“The work you are doing here is critical, because the country has a deficit of space engineers, especially black and female ones.

“We are trying to achieve a critical and meaningful role in the global space economy and need you to do that.”