The Directorate is responsible to spearhead, coordinate and influence the development and implementation of appropriate policies, infrastructure, institutional arrangements and advocate the mechanisms necessary to translate it into the necessary skills, value adding investments, jobs, goods, service and progressive growth in personal, corporate and national incomes.

1. Overview of the Space Programme in Namibia
Dr. Eino Mvula
Chief Executive Officer
24 July 2013, Windhoek

2. Presentation Outline
1 Introduction
2 Past and Current Developments
3 Benefits from Space Science & Technology
3 Challenges
4 Looking into the Future
5 Conclusion

3. Unlocking Namibia’s
potential
A. NCRSTs Mandate
Research Science and Technology Act, 2004
NCRST
1. Introduction

4. Innovation Value Chain
Basic Research Applied Research Technology Dev Manufacturing
National Commission on Research, Science & Technology
Public Research Institutions (UNAM, Poly,
ect)
NBIC
NDC
Private
Sector
MTI
B. Envisioning the Future
1. Introduction (Continues)

5. Research, Science
and Technology
Industrial Policy
Trade Policy
Education
Policy
National
Quality Policy
Health Policy
Environment
Policy
C. Policy Environment
1. Introduction (Continues)

6. Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Education
MAWF
Ministry of ICT
D. Stakeholders in Space Science & Technology
1. Introduction (Continues)

7. 2. Past and Recent Developments
A. HESS and HESS II:
• In 1999 through an agreement between
the University of Namibia and the Max
Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics four
Optical Gamma Ray Telescopes were
constructed in the Gamsberg Mountains.
• HESS is a collaboration between
numerous scientist from 12 states
including, Germany, South Africa,
France, UK, Sweden, Australia, etc.
• Based on the successful discoveries of
the first phase of HESS, it was decided to
construct a 30 meter dish that is 70
meters high on the same site and is
being termed as HESS II. The dish was
inaugurated in 2012.

8. B. Square Kilometer Array (SKA)
Project:
• The Square Kilometre Array project
is a global science and engineering
project to build the world’s largest
radio telescope.
• The African effort has nine partner
countries: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya,
Madagascar, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Namibia, South
Africa and Zambia.
• SKA African Associate Countries
objective is capacity development
in astronomy, engineering and
information technology.
2. Past and Recent Developments (Continues)

9. C. Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA)
• CTA-South will consist of an array of
Large-Size Telescopes (LSTs) for low-
energy detections, Medium-Size
Telescopes (MSTs) for medium-
energy (core) range, and Small-Size
Telescopes (SSTs) for high-energy
detections.
• Currently Namibia and Argentina
are bidding for hosting the Southern
site.
• Namibia’s chosen site, the Aar site,
has excellent environmental
conditions for Astronomy and
Astrophysics research and this
makes it better than the Argentinian
site.
• CTA will be in a position to answer
some fundamental questions of
astronomy and astrophysics and will
be a long-term (few decades) project
for conducting research.
2. Past and Recent Developments (Continues)

10. D. China Manned Space Engineering
Programme
China Established Tracking, Telemetry
and Command (TT&C) Station in 2000,
Training programme is in place to build
capacity. An Exhibition Hall was also
established to promote space science.
E. Others:
• The South African National Space
Agency’s (SANSA) Space Science
Geomagnetic Observatory
(Hermanus) has established
observatories in Keetmanshoop and
Tsumeb.
2. Past and Recent Developments (Continues)

11. 3. Benefits
A. Weather Satelite
• Weather satellites have
dramatically improved weather
forecasts and severe weather
predictions
B. Resource Monitoring
• Remote sensing technology
developed for analysis of
planetary images has improved
agricultural production.
• Similar technology can be used
for natural resource
management and disaster
analysis.

12. 3. Benefits (Continues)
C. Ocean Studies D. Digital Maps
E. Satellite Communications

13. 4. Challenges
A. Coordination
• There has been little attempt at
coordination of space activities,
which could result in
duplication of efforts and
facilities.
B. Capacity
• Lack of capacity (Infrastructure
and Human)

14. 5 Looking into the Future
• A National Space Policy & Implementation Strategy for Namibia-led and
developed by NCRST to streamline activities and ensure benefits are obtained
from the various activities and programmes being implemented.
Advanced
Skills Development
R&D enabling
Access
R&D enabling
Services
Three key investment
levers for creating Impact

15. 5 Looking into the Future (Continues)
• CUBESAT programme also called Professional Development in
Satellite Systems Engineering and Applications Programme (PDP)
which is meant for the Development of Namibia’s first Nano-Satellite,
Namsat-1 for educational and research purposes.
• Earth Observation: Expand Namibia’s capacity in Earth Observation
technologies for monitoring drought, floods and weather.
• Expand the Space Science and Technology Outreach Programme
-aimed at capacity building
• Establish the Space Science and Technology Council under NCRST

16. 5. Conclusion
• Namibia is reliant on space technology although limited capabilities
has been developed to utilise this technology.
• With the establishment of the NCRST we would expect:
• improved coordination & funding of space science and
technology activities; and
• development policy and legilative instruments to support growth
of the Namibia space arena and greater utilisation of space
technology for national development.

17. Thank you!!!!