Big announcement about rocket launches in South Africa

The South African National Space Agency (Sansa) has successfully tested a specialised payload on a suborbital sounding rocket launched from a newly unveiled rocket gantry operated by the Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI).

The facility is located at the Denel Overberg Test Range facility in Arniston. During the flight, which lasted approximately 400 seconds, Sansa’s payload successfully measured the Earth’s magnetic field and other data.

ASRI was officially launched in May 2024 and operates under the mechanical engineering faculty at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).

The institute primarily focuses on developing an indigenous commercial space launch capability for South Africa.

It is the evolution of the Aerospace Research Group (ASReg), founded by professors Jean Pitot and Mike Brooks in 2009.

The engineers and their postgraduate students have designed, built, and tested several research rocket motors and successfully launched a number suborbital sounding rockets.

Among these are the Phoenix-1A and Phoenix-1B Hybrid rockets, which have had several successful launches, including reaching the African hybrid rocket altitude record of 17.9 km.

ASRI’s rocket gantry was inaugurated on 3 December 2024 by the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina. Its development was funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.

“This gantry is a national asset that will be used to launch suborbital rockets built by ASRI,” Gina stated.

“It can also accommodate much larger solid-propellant vehicles of the type operated by space-faring nations, including other potential international clients on the continent and worldwide.”

The facility is designed to support next-generation aerospace projects, enabling the testing and preparation of advanced rocket systems while fostering critical research initiatives.

Its launch gantry features a state-of-the-art aiming and control system, allowing for 360-degree horizontal rotation and vertical elevation adjustments. This ensures pinpoint accuracy and adaptability to factors such as wind direction on launch days.

Sansa explained that, unlike orbital launch vehicles that can steer themselves, suborbital rockets are unguided and must be launched off a gantry that can be accurately aimed.

The newly launched facility was put through its paces, successfully launching two sounding rockets — the Phoenix-1D on 2 December and the Phoenix-1E on 4 December 2024.

Sansa said the gantry and the rockets performed well during testing, reaching altitudes of 16.6 km and 11.9 km, respectively.

One of the vehicles transmitted magnetometer data sampled during the flight back to the ground via a telemetry link, giving Sansa scientists an additional method of sampling the Earth’s magnetic field.

The Sansa-designed payload, developed in collaboration with the Department of Measurement at the Czech Technical University in Prague, was a centrepiece of the rocket’s mission.

The payload, equipped with an advanced Anisotropic Magneto-Resistive magnetometer, additional magnetometers, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and telemetry systems, was designed to capture precise magnetic data during its suborbital journey.

Sansa said the data captured during the flight will contribute to its ongoing efforts to advance magnetic research and bolster its position in the global scientific community.

“The unveiling of the national sounding rocket facility is a significant step forward in realising South Africa’s vision of a vibrant and sustainable space ecosystem,” said Sansa.

“As the facility begins operations, it will not only elevate South Africa’s position in global space research, but also inspire the next generation of space scientists, engineers, and innovators.”

While instrument-carrying sounding rockets are useful for scientific research and experiments, the hope is that South Africa will expand into launch vehicle rockets that can deliver payloads like satellites into orbit.

Core to ASRI’s ambitions is the completion of the South African First Rocket Engine (Saffire), a kerosene and liquid oxygen-powered engine with three tonnes of thrust.

This engine will be used on a sub-orbital launch vehicle nicknamed STeVe and, eventually, a planned Commercial Launch Vehicle (CLV).

The CLV, which is yet to get its official name, will be a 20-metre two-stage carrier rocket with a payload capacity of 200kg to 500kg, suitable for carrying and deploying small satellites into orbit.

Nine Saffire engines will power it on its first (booster) stage and another on its second (upper) stage.

The Saffire engine’s first testing was conducted at the Denel Overberg Test Range in June 2024.

ASRI plans to expand the site by building a rocket launchpad and supporting infrastructure, to lift orbital rockets as soon as 2028.