The satellite being build by SunSpace in co-operation with the University of Stellenbosch is now at the Institute for Software and Space Applications (ISSA) for its final environmental testing.
The Sumbandila satellite is sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology to create much needed activity in the space environment in South Africa. Sumbandila Sat is a microsat weighing 81 kg and will carry a multi-spectral imager, and several experiments from various interest groups, into a low earth polar orbit making its appearance over South Africa mid morning and mid evening.
ISSA is an initiative of the Department of Communications, aimed at meeting the high level needs of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. It is housed at the Houwteq space facilities built on the Haasvlakte within a scenic fynbos reserve near Grabouw, Western Cape. The facility is fully equipped for the design, programme management, integration and testing of small satellites.
Testing will continue throughout October. If the testing is successful, the satellite will be ready for shipping. During the first week of November the satellite will be shipped to Russia for integration with the rocket and transported to a submarine from where the satellite will be launched. The launch window is between 20 and 25 December 2006. “We could have a great Christmas present”, Mzukizi Mazula the University of Stellenbosch project manager for Sumbandile said. “It all depends on a successful testing phase!”
The main payload of Sumbandila Sat is a multi-spectral imager which as a 6,5 m ground sampling distance (GSD) with sox spectral bands and is supported by an on-board storage of 6 GB, expandable to 24 GB.
The experimental payloads are: SA AMSAT – 2 m/70 cm amateur radio transponder and digitalker. This payload will find not only use by the amateur radio fraternity but also has a large educational aspect of bringing space science into the class room.
Stellenbosch University Software defined radio (SDR) experiment Architectural radiation experiment for commercial off-the-shelf devices (ARECOTS) The SDR has attracted world-wide interest when a paper on the payload was presented the world’s largest Small Satellite Conference held in Utah in the USA during mid August 2006. The paper was presented by Kgabo Mathapo, a post- graduate student at the University of Stellenbosch
The other two experimental payloads are:
- A forced vibrating string experiment from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Very low frequency (VLF) radio experiment from the University of KwaZulu Natal.
Like SunSat, South Africa’s first satellite, Sumbandila Sat presents several educational opportunities at various levels from learners at school to post-graduate students at university
The Satellite Development Toolkit provides for three main areas of training. Engineers will be exposed to hands-on system level building of complete satellites in their own laboratory. The training is intertwined with a specific satellite mission that includes in-orbit commissioning and operational training. The third component is specialised satellite engineering training including detail design of components and sub systems.
A steady stream of twelve students, ten masters degree students and two PhD students plus a post-doctorate position is fully funded. In addition nine internships are receiving their training on the Satellite Development Toolkit for the building of a satellite knowledge base and capacity in industry.
Contact Hans van de Groenendaal, Tel (012) 991-4662, hans.vandegroenendaal@ee.co.za
