SumbandilaSat to be launched from Baikonur

It is official, South Africa's second satellite, SumbandilaSat, will be launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome in the December to March time frame.

Baikonur Cosmodrome is the launch complex where Sputnik 1, Earth's first artificial satellite, was launched.

All space station flights using Russian launch vehicles are launched from Baikonur. Baikonur is also the only Russian launch site capable of launching the Proton launch vehicle, which was used for Zarya, the first element launched for the space station.

The name Baikonur is misleading. The former Soviet Union used the name and coordinates of a small mining town, Baikonur, to describe the location of its rocket complex. In fact, the launch complex is about 322 kilometres southwest of the mining town near Tyuratam in Kazakhstan. This misrepresentation was done intentionally to hide the actual location of the launch complex. Although the true location is now known, the launch complex is still referred to as Baikonur.

SumbandilaSat was first scheduled for launch on a Sthil rocket from a Russian submarine but due to political issues between various departments in Russia the plan was aborted and DST began a search for a new launch opportunity. Some concerted behind the scenes diplomatics resulted in the Russians agreeing to honour the contract and shift the launch to Baikonur.

SumbandilaSat has been unpacked and is undergoing testing at SunSpace in Stellenbosch before it will be shipped to Russia for integration with the launch vehicle. Engineers at the launch site are preparing a special adapter ring to accommodate the Sumbandila structure on the rocket.

The main payload of SumbandilaSat is a Multi-spectral imager which has a 6,5m Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) with 6 spectral bands and is supported by an on-board storage of 6 Gigabyte, expandable to 24 Gigabyte.

There are several experimental payloads including:
SA AMSAT - 2 m/70 cm amateur radio transponder and digitalker. This payload will find not only use by the amateur radio fraternity but also has a large educational aspect of bringing space science into the class room. It will wow young people!

Source: The South African Radio League