The South African scientist who played with rocket fuel in his mom’s kitchen and has a minor planet named after him
Siyabulela “Siya” Lethuxolo Xuza is an award-winning South African-born scientist who is the founder and managing director of energy investment firm Galactic Energy Ventures.
His academic accolades have also enabled him to share his voice as a speaker and thought leader on topics such as sustainability, technology, and economic development.
Xuza comes from a modest background. Born in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, in 1989, the future rocket scientist said his passion for science was ignited while growing up in the region.
“I was chasing the roar of a Cessna plane dropping election pamphlets over Mthatha, my South African township,” he recalled in an interview.
“It was 1994, the first year of a new democracy in my country, and the sight of that technological marvel ignited in me a curiosity for science and a passion for using technology to engineer an African renaissance.”
He added that he was later inspired by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth’s 2002 spaceflight, which ignited his long-standing interest in rocket science.
“Watching Mark Shuttleworth going into space motivated me even more, and when the US stopped shipping rocket fuel post-9/11, it became a catalyst for the development of my idea,” he recalled.
Xuza’s family eventually moved to Johannesburg, and in grade 8, he received a scholarship to study at St. John’s College in the city.
At the age of 16, he began work on a project to develop rocket fuel in his mother’s kitchen. However, an incident with a stove forced his informal laboratory to move into the garage.
Undeterred by the move into the garage, Xuza worked on the project for years. His rocket ultimately climbed to over 1km, earning him the junior amateur high-powered altitude record.
Xuza was developing rocket fuel for his homemade rocket, The Phoenix. The project culminated in him creating a new, cheaper, safer, and more efficient rocket fuel than those in use at the time.
“What makes the fuel cheaper and safer are the ingredients that go into making it,” he said at the time. However, he said he couldn’t reveal the process or ingredients for “security reasons”.
Attending science fairs and a Nobel Prize ceremony
Xuza’s achievements led him to win gold at Eskom’s 2006 National Science Expo for his project, titled African Space: Fueling Africa’s Quest to Space.
He also received an invitation to present his project before the King and Queen of Sweden and attend a Nobel Prize Ceremony in Stockholm.
Xuza’s project was then entered into the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s biggest student science event that attracts around 1,500 students from 52 nations.
He won both grand finals, earning him global recognition for his efforts and a scholarship to attend Harvard University.
This achievement drew the attention of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its affiliated Lincoln Laboratory, which named an asteroid after him.
Asteroids are classified as minor planets. The one known as 23182 Siyaxuza is located in the central asteroid belt near Jupiter.
At Harvard, Xuza conducted research into making cheaper solar cells and investigated the viability of different solar technologies.
During this time, he travelled to Addis Ababa to engage in discussions around creating prosperity for Africa, and in 2011, he became a fellow of the Kairos Society.
The Kairos Society is a global network of top-achieving students and global leaders leveraging entrepreneurship and innovation to solve global challenges.
He ultimately graduated from Harvard University with a BSc in Engineering Science in May 2013.
Beyond international acclaim, Xuza received recognition from the South African government in 2017 when he received the Order of Mapungubwe Silver award.
The award recognised his exceptional achievements in science and innovation, as well as his role in promoting South African excellence internationally.
While the exact launch date is unclear, Xuza founded Galactic Energy Ventures, where he serves as the company’s managing director.
The company primarily focuses on energy investment and innovation, clean and distributed energy solutions, and addressing challenges in accessing electricity in emerging markets, primarily in Africa.
Today, he continues to work as an energy engineer, entrepreneur, advisor, public speaker, and thought leader.
He may be less publicly visible than he was during his younger years, but Xuza remains involved in long-term energy and infrastructure initiatives.
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