Developing a Space Program in a Developing Country: Opportunities and Challenges

摘要

Developing a space programme in a developing country can be a challenge more especially in the African continent given the other socio-economic and developmental challenges that these countries face. The major challenges of these developing countries are the lack in capacity for the space sector, the limited access to technology, funding and geo-politics. South Africa has a rich history in space involvement and has developed a number of space capabilities spanning five decades and more. Some of the capabilities were migrated into the recently formed South African National Space Agency (SANSA) that is the implementing agency of the newly developed National Space Programme. The needs of developing countries to address poverty, economic strain, inadequate technology and human capital development needs are opportunities in favour of developing a national space programme. This paper investigates the rationale for South Africa to formalise a National Space Programme. It examines progress made by the South African National Space Agency in implementing the National Space Programme and challenges met and opportunities. It further studies the alignment of the programmes of the local space industry and academia to the vision of the National Space Programme (NSP) as well as the impact of their product and services to societal challenges. Our findings demonstrate that the strides that SA has made in the satellite development capacity in the country as well as academic programmes to advance the technological know-how in satellite design and manufacturing as well as in ground segment services are major steps in turning the country to a knowledge-based economy. The reliance of South Africa on space technology and the benefits derived from the space based products and services has given rise to the need to invest in the development of the space industry in order to contribute meaningfully to the regional, continental and ultimately global space market.