[FPSPACE] SA ponders satellite launch options

[Keith Gottschalk]

     Looks like we South Africans must bite our fingernails while the
authorities cost other Russian offers, versus ISRO-Antrix, versus ESA. I
suppose that caution that "some of the integration interfaces between
the satellite and the launch rocket will have to be re-designed" will
apply regardless of which other launcher is chosen. Since such
modification can only start after the new launch contractor is chosen &
the price agreed & contract signed, that looks more like 2009 than 2008.
 zOh well, the International Year of Astronomy is 2009, isn't it?

warm regards, your Earthbound Keith   :(

>>> "Baris Gencay" <baris.gencay at gmail.com> 02/28/08 5:17 PM >>>
>Sumbandilasat again....this time on they way to India....
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=127993 
>
>The fact that all the leading players in Outer Space have, or are
developing, national launch capabilities, has resulted in 
>debate within and between government departments and institutions
about South Africa exploring the establishment of its 
>own satellite launch capability.
>
>"This has definitely come up," reveals Department of Science and
Technology space science and technology manager Dr 
>Val Munsami.
>
>"In fact, when we were doing the public consultation on the National
Space Science and Technology Strategy, the issue of 
>launch capability came up, purely because of the difficulties we are
encountering with SumbandilaSat at the moment."
>
>"This is space policy issue," he points out. "The Department of Trade
and Industry is busy drafting a space policy at the 
>moment and the launch issue is part of these discussions. The launch
capability issue is also sensitive. Cast your mind back 
>to how we got involved in the Missile Technology Control Regime
(MTCR)."
>
>In the 1980s, as part of the country's then nuclear weapons programme,
South Africa developed an intermediate-range 
>ballistic missile design. Three such missiles (designed RSA 1 to RSA
3) were built, of which two were test flown.
>
>The third was converted to be a satellite launch vehicle for a spy
satellite (which later evolved into the abortive GreenSat, 
>which never flew), only to be subsequently de-activated under
international supervision, and then put on display at the 
>South African Air Force Museum at Air Force Base Swartkops, just south
of Pretoria.
>
>Further, South Africa adhered to the MTCR. "Some of the negotiations
that took place at that time were that we were not 
>going to embark on the development of any new missiles," points out
Munsami.
>
>Just as missiles can be adapted to launch satellites, it is not
impossible to adapt satellite launch rockets to become missiles. 
>"But, obviously, now that we're members of the MTCR, that means we're
responsible users of the technology. So one has 
>to weigh that option, whether we keep those promises, or whether we be
responsible users of that technology. And it is 
>clearly a political decision that has to be taken at a policy level."
>
>As for SumbandilaSat, that was meant to have been launched last year,
by the Russian Navy, on a converted Shtil 
>submarine-launched ballistic missile. "We have official indications
from the Russians that it is problematic that the Shtil can 
>be used," he reports. "They have given us other options, but they will
cost us time and money." This is because some of the 
>integration interfaces between the satellite and the launch rocket
will have to be re-designed.
>
>As a result, the South Africans are also looking at other launch
options, seeking to find that which is best for the country. 
>"India is one of the options," he confirms. "Obviously, Europe is
another. We haven't actually considered China but, if it 
>comes our way, we definitely would. But that's not to say we have
closed the door on the Russian option yet. We have to 
>weigh the different options and see which is the best to suit our
needs."
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