The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will continue to wait for a launch date for its Sumbandila satellite from its Russian partner, despite it being subject to another delay.
This is the second time this year the launch of the indigenous satellite has been delayed. Russian space agency Roskosmos failed to launch it in March and now again in May. Despite being put out by several administrative changes, the DST is yet to take a decision on the fate of its partnership with the Russian space agency.
“The delay is with the Russians and not with us. The date for the launch depends on what other launches have been scheduled and that is what causes the delay,” says DST spokesman Nhlanhla Nyide.
He adds that other partnerships have “always been on the table” and that the department will take on another partner if it is able to secure a launch date. In February 2008, the department announced it was searching for a new launch partner, and identified India and China as possible partners. But Russia regained its place as preferred partner after talks were held between the countries last year.
The 80kg low-orbit satellite - which will be the second satellite launched by government- is a key part of the DST's National Space Agency Act. It forms part of the multimillion-rand, national space programme developed by the DST, which promotes space research and development. Once in low earth orbit, it will serve as a research tool to support, among other things, the monitoring and management of disasters such as the extent of floods, oil spills and fires.
Long wait
The launch will be the result of the DST's three-year, R26 million integrated capacity building and satellite development project. In October 2005, minister of science and technology Mosibudi Mangena announced the project, and the satellite was delivered to the DST in November 2006.
The Sumbandilasat launch was supposed to have taken place in December 2006, from a submarine near the northern Russian naval base of Murmansk, but efforts to kick-start the space project were delayed. The launch date was then set for June 2007, but was once again delayed, with the department citing “administrative problems”.
March 2008 was set as the new launch date, but it was announced this had been moved to May. It is speculated the satellite would launch in August, but this could not be confirmed by the DST.
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