Programmes
Pathfinder Satellite Programme
A small South African
earth observing satellite is currently under
development. Commissioned by the Department of Science and
Technology, the programme will be carried out by
Stellenbosch University in conjunction with Sun Space and
Information Systems and the CSIR's Satellite Applications
Centre as a capacity building and satellite development
initiative.
The satellite, named SumbandilaSat, will be positioned in a Low
Earth Orbit (LEO) to enable it to take high resolution
images which will be used for agricultural and environmental management applications.
South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP)
The South African Base (SANAE
IV) in Antarctica
SANAP's mission is to increase understanding of the natural environment and life in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean through appropriate science and technology. Antarctic Research is divided into four programmes, of which only the Physical Sciences Programme is conducted throughout the year.
The Physical Sciences programme includes:
- The Southern Hemisphere Auroral Radar Experiment (SHARE)
- Antarctic Magnetosphere, Ionosphere Ground-based Observations (AMIGO)
- Antarctic Research on Cosmic Rays (ANOKS)
- Astrid Satellite Telemetry Station
- Upper Atmosphere Physics
- GPS Project
GEO - Group on Earth Observations
Earth Observation Satellite images for long-range
pollution monitoring, ecological forecasting and extreme
weather predictions.
Together with the United States, the European Commission and China, South Africa co-chairs the Group on Earth Observations. 47 countries and the European Commission are represented, as well as 26 international organisations. The function of the programme is to coordinate the strategies and systems for Earth Observations and identify measures to minimise data gaps, with a view to moving toward a comprehensive, coordinated and sustained Earth observation system.
South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)
One of SAEON's objectives is to monitor social and
biological diversity
SAEON is an information management network that establishes research and education platforms for long-term studies of ecosystems that will provide for incremental advances in our understanding of ecosystems and our ability to detect, predict and react to environmental change.
SAEON is affiliated to Environmental Long-Term Observatories of Southern Africa (ELTOSA). This is a network of southern African countries embarking on time-series environmental research and monitoring programmes. This research suppots and informs environmental policy making on the Southern African sub-continent.
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