In a historic milestone for South Africa’s aerospace industry, the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) successfully tested a specialised payload on a suborbital-sounding rocket at the newly unveiled rocket gantry at the Denel Overberg Test Range in Arniston, Cape {town} Etc reports.
According to a media statement, the payload successfully measured the Earth’s magnetic field and flight data during the flight, which lasted for approximately 400 seconds.
The new gantry, which is a movable tower that supports, services and stabilises a rocket on the launch pad, was inaugurated on 3 December 2024 by Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Ms Nomalungelo Gina.
Its development was funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and implemented by the Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
‘This gantry is a national asset that will be used to launch suborbital rockets built by ASRI,’ Gina said.
‘It can also accommodate much larger solid-propellant vehicles of the type operated by space-faring nations, including other potential international clients on the continent and worldwide.’
The new facility supports next-gen aerospace projects, offering advanced rocket testing and research.
Its state-of-the-art launch gantry features 360-degree rotation and vertical elevation adjustments for precise accuracy, even under changing wind conditions.
Unlike orbital launch vehicles, suborbital rockets are unguided and require precise aiming from a gantry based on flight trajectory and safety factors.
The new facility, tested with successful launches of the Phoenix-1D and Phoenix-1E on December 2 and 4, 2024, is designed for advanced rocket testing, propulsion development and aerospace research.
The rockets reached altitudes of 16.6 km and 11.9 km, with one transmitting magnetometer data to study the Earth’s magnetic field.
UKZN is among the top universities globally in terms of its ability to engineer high-performance hybrid rockets.
The SANSA-designed payload, developed in collaboration with the Department of Measurement at the Czech Technical University in Prague, was a centrepiece of the rocket’s mission.
Equipped with an advanced Anisotropic Magneto Resistive (AMR) magnetometer, additional magnetometers, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and telemetry systems, the payload was designed to capture precise magnetic data during its suborbital journey.
The rocket’s 400-second flight transmitted real-time magnetic and flight data via SANSA’s telemetry system, advancing magnetic research and enhancing South Africa’s global scientific standing.
The opening of the national sounding rocket facility marks a key milestone in South Africa’s vision for a vibrant space ecosystem, boosting the country’s position in space research and inspiring future generations of scientists, engineers, and innovators.
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Picture: SANSA.org.za
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