Jonathan Lun, a local legitimate rocket scientist, will explore ways of using rocket technology to mine materials from asteroids in space, when he attends a nine-week course at Singularity University in the US next month.
Singularity University, founded in 2008, is dedicated to leveraging technologies for the benefit of humanity. Every year, a course is held at the university, where promising start-ups from around the world are invited to attend.
Lun was named the winner of the second annual South African Global Impact Challenge (GIC); this was announced at a ceremony which took place last night in Johannesburg.
The GIC aims to discover entrepreneurs who will solve global issues through innovative technology, and acts as a feeder to the intensive course. Winners are awarded a scholarship worth $40 000 to attend the Silicon Valley-based university.
Lun was one of five finalists to pitch his 'moonshot' idea to a panel of judges, including two people who have attended Singularity University before.
He said he plans to help develop technology to mine asteroids in space because of the diminishing natural resources on earth.
Other finalists included mechanical engineer Michael Schmid, who is experimenting with solar-powered batteries; Spencer Horne, who plans to build zero-emission solar-powered airships; Brett Jordaan, whose technology aims to turn plastic waste into fuel; and Benji Coetzee, who came up with an idea to match empty cargo ships and planes with goods that need delivering. Her company is called Empty Trips and is already operational.
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