SumbandilaSat on track for September 15 launch

The technical launch team from Sunspace, the company that built SumbandilaSat and integrated all the payloads, left South Africa for Baikonur Cosmodrome on Thursday.

The team will unpack the satellite and go through rigorous tests to ensure that all the systems are working. The team is expected to be at Baikonur for nine days. One person will stay behind to do a final battery recharge prior to the launch.

On their return to Stellenbosch, the Sunspace team will finalise the setup of the ground station in preparation for activating the satellite.

SumbandilaSat will be separated from the rocket about three hours after lift-off in its flight over Africa, approximately 30 minutes before coming within reach of the ground station in South Africa.

Extensive testing will be carried out for two to three months. Radio amateurs can expect a Christmas bonus, as the amateur payload will be tested and may be on periodically.

SA AMSAT is working closely with Sunspace and the Department of Science and Technology on an operational schedule, to be realised early in 2010.

SA Amsat

The South African Radio League