A satellite, ZA-Cuba, designed by students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, will be launched in November to observe the planet Earth.
It is the country’s third satellite and, according to national broadcaster SABC News, it will join two others, Sunsat and Sumbandla – the latter launched in 2009.
South Africa’s Science and Technology Department Director-General Phil Mjwara confirmed at World Space Week in Kimberly that ZA-Cuba will be used to observe the Earth for research purposes.
“This is a small experimental tube satellite so it’s a satellite which usually is built by students in partnership with universities and in this case Cape Peninsula University of Technology has been working on this small experimental satellite which I believe by now will be ready for possible launch in late November,” Mr Mjwara is quoted by SABC as saying.
Lorenzo Raynard, representing the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, detailed the organisation’s role in informing the public and fund research programmes.
* Image via Shutterstock
Staff Writer
