The Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI) of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has signed an exclusive agreement with South African private-sector space company Mura Space. The agreement covered the commercialisation of ASRI’s Sounding Rocket Launch Facility, which was located at the Overberg Test Range at Arniston, in the Western Cape province. (Sounding rockets were suborbital rockets, used for trials, testing and scientific research.)

“Our collaboration with Mura Space represents a significant milestone in our mission to deliver indigenously developed, sovereign access to space for South Africa and the continent,” highlighted ASRI director Prof Michael Brooks. “By combining our advanced engineering expertise, in-house manufacturing capabilities, and 16 years of innovation with Mura’s commercial vision for launch, we are opening new frontiers for local research, skills development, and global technology exchange. We are excited about a launch ecosystem that will empower the next generation and position Africa as a key player in the global aerospace sector.”

The relationship between the two organisations would allow approved suborbital rocket launches, from existing fixed and mobile launch facilities, under proper oversight and in line with well-established operational and safety standards. Mura Space had a suborbital rocket launch programme for next year, some of these being intended to reach 100 km in altitude, widely regarded as the edge of space.

“We are very excited to collaborate with UKZN ASRI on this initiative,” affirmed Mura Space CEO Frederik de Ridder. “We hope some of these launches will offer new opportunities for select South African micro-gravity research payloads as well as contribute positively to local educational and human capital development programmes in ways previously not possible. The world over, it is evidenced that growth and development in the scale and scope of suborbital activity is the foundational groundwork for orbital launch – South Africa is walking and we are excited about working with key space stakeholders to help grow the momentum towards a historical first commercial orbital attempt from African soil.”

Both parties believed that their collaboration would strengthen South Africa’s position in global aerospace research. It would promote international knowledge and technology transfer to South Africa. And it would support local research and skills development, as well as showcase science, technology, engineering and mathematics to young people.

Activities under the agreement would occur under the newly created AfriRoC initiative. (AfriRoC was an acronym for African Rocketry Challenge.) All activities would be subject to the obtaining of all the required regulatory and safety approvals.

“Mura Space and ASRI are independently committed to building a vibrant, credible, entrepreneurial and safe launch ecosystem that supports South Africa’s ambition to develop its own orbital launch capacity and capabilities,” they affirmed in their joint statement.