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TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION


        NASA and South Africa renew                                               knowledge of key challenges to astronaut
                                                                                  health and safety, such as space radiation,
        lunar exploration partnership                                             altered gravity fields, isolation and
                                                                                  confinement, closed environments, and
                                                                                  extreme and prolonged distance from
                                                                                  Earth.”
             ASA and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) renewed        MTJ will join future LEGS facilities
             their partnership in lunar exploration with the ground-breaking of a new   at NASA’s White Sands Complex in
       Ncommunications facility which will help the Artemis missions return humans to the   Las Cruces, New Mexico and a still-to-
        Moon.                                                                     be-determined location in Australia.
           Badri Younes, Deputy Associate Administrator for NASA’s Space Communications and   With a LEGS station in North America,
        Navigation (SCaN) programme, joined with SANSA officials on Tuesday 8 November 2022 in   South Africa and Australia, the Moon
        Matjiesfontein, or MTJ, for a ground-breaking at the future site of a new Lunar Exploration   will always be in Earth’s view to ensure
        Ground Sites (LEGS) antenna.                                              essential, enhanced direct-to-Earth
           The ceremony was preceded by the signing of a letter of intent between NASA and the   communications capabilities up to two
        South African Department of Science and Innovation, to formalise the space exploration   million kilometres away through NASA’s
        partnership.                                                              Near Space Network (NSN).
           Located approximately 240 kilometres northeast of Cape Town, MTJ will be one of   “We are pleased that this project has
        three 18- to 24-metre communications LEGS antennas, strategically placed around the   reached a significant milestone with the
        globe to ensure near-continuous connectivity between astronauts on NASA’s Artemis   support of the Department of Science
        spacecraft and those who’ll subsequently come to work on and around the lunar surface.  and Innovation as well as the partnership
           “Location, weather and existing infrastructure make Matjiesfontein the ideal place to   of NASA,” said Tiaan Strydom SANSA
        build this antenna,” said Younes. ”We really couldn’t have asked for a better spot on Earth   acting Commercial Services Executive.
        than here in South Africa, with whom we first partnered six decades ago to land the first   “Matjiesfontein ground station
        humans on the lunar surface.”                                             extends SANSA space capabilities and
           South Africa was home to a ground tracking station at Hartebeesthoek (HBK) that   specialisation, taking the agency a notch
        played a critical role in NASA’s Apollo missions in the 1960s. Artemis, named for Apollo’s   higher as a global player in space science
        sister, will land the first woman and person of colour on the Moon, paving the way for a   and technology.”
        long-term lunar presence, and serving as a stepping stone to send astronauts to Mars.  “The Moon brought NASA and South
           “We see this partnership as mutually beneficial,” said Dr. Phil Mjwara, DSI Director   Africa together 60 years ago. I’m so
        General. “Matjiesfontein ground station will alleviate increased demand for NASA’s   pleased it’s done so again today”, Badri
        Deep Space Network (DSN), allowing Artemis to meet its goals and expand our scientific   Younes said.








































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