These are the first ever devices of this kind, completely manufactured in Africa
PRETORIA, January 14. /tass/. South Africa launched three space microsatellites into near-Earth orbit on Friday. This was reported by the South African government agency SA News with reference to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the country Blade Nzimande. The satellites were sent from the American spaceport at Cape Canaveral.
These are the first devices of this kind in history, completely manufactured in Africa, the agency notes. They will be part of a grouping of nine satellites that the Ministry of Science is forming to "detect, identify and track ships in real time to develop South Africa's capabilities in the field of navigation."
"This will further strengthen South Africa's position as Africa's leader in the creation of microsatellites and will help the country to occupy an important part of the valuable satellite market," Minister Nzimande stressed. According to him, the country is developing a program for the formation of appropriate specialists at the Technological University of the Cape Peninsula. The satellites launched on Friday were created by students of this university.
A few years ago, the National Space Agency of South Africa announced its intentions to invest about $ 300 million in the development of the national space industry. The foundation of a new center for the development of infrastructure facilities related to space research was outlined as the main goal. Already, South Africa is the only country in Africa that can make a weather forecast using images from space. South Africa plans to build new satellites for observing the Earth's surface and conducting scientific missions, and to create a new flight tracking station.
African countries are showing a growing interest in space research. Our own specialized agencies have been established not only in South Africa, but also in Algeria, Angola, Gabon, Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia.
