SUNSAT: Suid-Afrika se eerste satelliet in die ruimte
Date
2002-09-28
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Publishing
Abstract
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die SUNSAT-satelliet is as navorsing- en ontwikkelingsprogram aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch bedryf van 1992 tot 2001. Dit
het nuwe tegnologie vir Suid-Afrika verwerf en internasionaal ’n nuwe werkverrigtingsvlak ten opsigte van mikrosatelliete se
beeldwaarnemingsvermoëns daargestel. SUNSAT het ook internasionale amateurradiokommunikasie en ruimtewetenskaplike
eksperimente ondersteun. Tydens die ontwikkelingsfase het meer as 100 nagraadse studente hul tesisonderwerpe op SUNSAT geskoei,
en ’n gepaardgaande wetenskapbewusmakingsprogram het meer as 50 000 skoliere bereik. Hierdie artikel gee ’n oorsig oor die
samestelling van die satelliet en sluit af met ’n toekomsvisie vir satelliettegnologie in Suid-Afrika.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The SUNSAT satellite was conducted as a research and development programme at Stellenbosch University from 1992 till 2001. It obtained new technology for South Africa and set new performance levels internationally with regard to micro-satellites. SUNSAT also supported amateur radio communications internationally, as well as space physics experiments. During the development phase more than 100 postgraduate students based their theses on SUNSAT, and a supplementary science awareness programme reached more than 50 000 learners. This article provides an overview of the satellite configuration and concludes with a vision for satellite technology in South Africa.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The SUNSAT satellite was conducted as a research and development programme at Stellenbosch University from 1992 till 2001. It obtained new technology for South Africa and set new performance levels internationally with regard to micro-satellites. SUNSAT also supported amateur radio communications internationally, as well as space physics experiments. During the development phase more than 100 postgraduate students based their theses on SUNSAT, and a supplementary science awareness programme reached more than 50 000 learners. This article provides an overview of the satellite configuration and concludes with a vision for satellite technology in South Africa.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.satnt.ac.za/
CITATION: Schoonwinkel, A., Milne, G. W., Du Plessis, J. & Mostert, S. 2002. SUNSAT: Suid-Afrika se eerste satelliet in die ruimte. Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie, 21(3):90-100, doi: 10.4102/satnt.v21i3.233.
CITATION: Schoonwinkel, A., Milne, G. W., Du Plessis, J. & Mostert, S. 2002. SUNSAT: Suid-Afrika se eerste satelliet in die ruimte. Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie, 21(3):90-100, doi: 10.4102/satnt.v21i3.233.
Keywords
SUNSAT satellite, Stellenbosch University, Micro satellites, Satellites --Technology, Satellite radio services
Citation
Schoonwinkel, A., Milne, G. W., Du Plessis, J. & Mostert, S. 2002. SUNSAT: Suid-Afrika se eerste satelliet in die ruimte. Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie, 21(3):90-100, doi: 10.4102/satnt.v21i3.233.