From Stellies to the stars: Students build telescope tech bound for China’s moon mission
Stellenbosch University students are developing radio telescope technology for China's Chang'e-8 lunar mission. The project aims to deploy composite spheres on the moon's south pole to conduct radio astronomy at frequencies undetectable from Earth.
Why it matters
This project highlights South Africa's growing role in international space exploration and its potential to contribute to global scientific research.
Four Stellenbosch University (SU) students are building technology that could be sent to the moon as part of the Chinese National Space Agency’s Chang’e-8 robotic lunar mission, in a display that will cement South Africa’s place as a country with satellite-building capabilities.
Michael Esterhuyse, Nortier Geyer, Danie Gouws and Russouw Grobbelaar are the four engineers and master’s students who volunteered to work on the Africa2Moon project, South Africa’s bid to deploy the world’s first radio telescope array on the lunar surface. They built the electronic and communication systems for a prototype of the Bounced African Low Lunar Spheres (BALLS), South African-designed composite spheres housing low-frequency radio telescope antennas.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in