The observations gleaned from the SumbandilaSat satellite will support decision-making in areas including land use and distribution, agriculture, disaster management, natural resource management, infrastructure planning, urban planning and housing developments, says the Department of Science and Technology.
"The satellite is expected to stay in orbit for three years, but we have made preparations for it to remain in orbit for up to five years," says to Mothibi Ramusi, manager of the Satellite Applications Centre at the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research.
SumbandilaSat's observation equipment will take pictures of the earth with a high resolution camera, which has sensors designed to provide strategic information for numerous stakeholders.
The images could then be used as visual aids to monitor and analyse climate trends. The satellite's communications equipment will provide telecommunications services, primarily e-mail and data, based on a "store and forward" principle.
Ramusi says this particular payload could benefit communities where telecommunications infrastructure is non-existent. "Receiving terminals can be erected at various schools, clinics, post offices and Multi Purpose Community Centres (MPCCs) thereby allowing surrounding communities to utilise the service for e-mail communications."
Ramusi explains that as the satellite passes over SA, users who would have erected receiving stations at their premises will be able to send and receive e-mails.
In addition to e-mails, Ramusi says the communications payload can be used, for example, to transmit data on dam levels from a ground sensor to a satellite, after which the data can be forwarded to water authorities using the store and forward principles.
The data gathered will be useful in informing communities about pending water management developments.
SumbandilaSat will also play a complementary role to other satellite sensors with regards to the monitoring of climatic occurrences such as floods and fires. Universities near rural communities will also be able to partner with industry specialists to develop capacity building and outreach programmes to attract locals into the field of space technology.
"The ultimate goal is to grow capacity in the space science and technology domain, to develop new industries and make certain that even rural communities are part of the process," says Ramusi.
The department has invested R26 million into the project, which Ramusi told BuaNews, was part of government's drive to increase the country's capacity and usage of space technology to address development needs.