The National Space Conference had a dynamic programme centred on the theme of “Space for Inclusive Growth.”
The programme was organised in accordance with the daily themes and sub-themes that are intended to address numerous topics in space, science, policy, technology, and innovation.
DETAILED PROGRAMME
Download a 2023 detailed programme.
DAY 1
Theme: Space and Society
08:00 – 08:45
Registration and morning coffee
09:00 – 11:00
OPENING SESSION
Sharing space benefits (society, economy, environment security and sustainability)
Opening Performance
Welcome Remarks
Dr Rakeshnie Ramoutar
Deputy Director-General, Technology Innovation, DSI
Opening Statements
Lieutenant General Wiseman Simo Mbambo
Chief of the Airforce, SAAF
Dr Mmboneni Muofhe
Deputy Director General (DDG), DSI
Dr Kaven Naidoo
Group Executive, BE&I, NEOSS, CSIR
Humbulani Mudau
Chief Executive Officer, SANSA
11:00 – 11:30
Opening of the Exhibition and Rocket Launch capability demonstration and unveiling
Dr Phil Mjwara
Director General, DSI
11:30 – 13:15
TECHNICAL SESSION 1
Sharing recent developments in the use of Integrated Applications and Research for societal benefit
Moderator
Dr Moses Cho
Chief Scientist and Research Group Leader, Precision Agriculture Research Group, CSIR
Quantifying changes in the extent of South African estuarine habitats to inform targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
Dr Heidi van Deventer
Principal Researcher, CSIR
Synergetic Use of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data for Wheat Crop Height Monitoring Using Machine Learning
Dr Cilence Munghemezulu
Researcher, ARC
Unlocking Earth Observation imagery to provide insight, Business
Micheal Breetzke
Development Manager, Swiftgeospatial
Wildfire emissions assessed using remotely sensed data: A review
Dr Lerato Shikwambana
Senior Scientist, SANSA EO
Music and Bands. Optimising Sentinel-2 Feature Space for Improved Crop Biophysical and Biochemical Variables Retrieval Using the Novel Spectral Traid Feature Selection Algorithm
Dr Mahlatse Kganyago
Geo-informatics Lecturer/Researcher, UJ
Remote Sensing in Assessing Engineering Risk – Using satellite data to detect ground settlement and swelling for planned railway infrastructure extension
Ndilisa Didiza
CoP Co-Chair, NEOSS
13:30 – 14:00
Lunch break and exhibition
14:00 – 15:00
SHOWCASING SESSION 1
Sharing recent developments in building space capabilities
Moderator
Fikiswa Majola
Deputy Director, DSI
Mission Options for an Indigenously-Developed Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
Prof. Jean Pitot
Associate Professor, ASrec, UKZN
Development and Deployment of Low Earth Orbit Nanosatellites for Maritime Applications
Sinamandla Maqina
Mission Engineer, CPUT
Geomagnetic jerks observed in geomagnetic observatory data over Southern Africa between 2018 and 2022
Sanele Lionel Khanyile
SANSA
BACAR – an affordable test platform
Christo Kriek
Portfolio Manager, BACAR
Develop of national space capabilities
Tebogo Mokgalagadi
Acting Executive: Space Engineering, SANSA
15:00 – 16:00
YOUTH SESSION
EO monitoring demonstration activity
16:00 – 18:00
WELCOME RECEPTION
Networking session
Major General Lancelot Mathebula
SAAF
DAY 2
Theme: Space and Industry
08:00 – 08:45
Registration and morning coffee
09:00 – 11:00
SPECIAL LECTURE 1
Space entrepreneurship and innovation
Bryan Dean
CEO, DragonFly
PLENARY 1
Sharing industry’s space infrastructure and operations
Moderator
Jessie Ndaba, CoP Co-Chair, NEOSS
Participants
Eugene Avenant
Chief Engineer, Space Operations, SANSA
Prof. Sias Mostert
Chairman, SCS Aerospace Group, Space Commercial Services (Pty) Ltd
James Barrington-Brown
Chief Executive Officer, NewSpace Systems
Alex Fortescue
Manager, Africa, Maxar
Kannas Wiid
EOS SAT-1 Spacecraft System Engineer, Dragonfly Aerospace
Dr Rob Van Zyl
Managing Director, AAC – Space Africa
11:00 – 11:30
Networking break and exhibition
11:30 – 13:30
TECHNICAL SESSION 2
Sharing achievements and use cases for space innovation and services
Moderator
Dr Tinisha Chetty
CoP NEOSS CoP Co-Chair
Mapping waterbodies and wetlands in Digital Earth Africa platform: tools and applications
Mpho Sadiki
Earth Observation Data Scientist, DEA
Using the Agrisense Constellation as a tool for building sustainable space programmes
Tucia Busakwe
Space Scientist, SCS
Standards for space
Rheinhardt Sieberhagen
R&D Metrologist, NMISA
Weed Detection Using Biomass
Yoliswa Mkhize
Graduate Intern, CSIR
Impact of Earth Observation in Rural Communities
Tswelelo Piet
Abiri Technologies
Mapping the presence of woody invasive alien plants in the Luvuvhu Catchment of South Africa using multispectral Sentinel-2 satellite imagery
PhD Student, Stellenbosch University
Detecting woody invasive alien plants using Sentinel-2 imagery in the uMzimvubu Catchment, Eastern Cape
Thandeka Skosana
Stellenbosch University
13:30 – 14:00
Lunch break and exhibition
14:00 – 15:00
SHOWCASING SESSION 2
Sharing status of frameworks, programmes and initiatives for coordination regulation, and planning
Moderator
Adv. Lulu Makapela
Manager, NEOSS
National Coordination Mechanisms
Ernest Acheampong
Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
National Spatial Information Framework
Maroale Mimi Martha Chauke
Director, DALLRD
Space Industry Framework and Action Plan
Nomfuneko Majaja
Chief Director, DTIC
Status of NEO Frontiers and development SAEOS Portal
Asanda Ntisana-Sangoni
Acting Managing Director, EO, SANSA
TrigNet: Status of South Africa’s GNSS Base Station Network
Patrick Vorster
Professional Land Surveyor, National Geospatial Information, Branch: NGMS, DALRRD
Military Aerospace Authority
Major General De Villiers
Air Traffic controller, SAAF
DAY 3
Theme: Space and the Future
08:00 – 08:45
Registration and morning coffee
09:00 – 11:00
SPECIAL LECTURE 2
Space and Sustainability
Pontsho Maruping
Managing Director, SARAO
PLENARY 2
Sharing current space education and outreach activities, methods, and techniques
Moderator
Sinesipho Ngamile
Space Education Officer, SANSA
Reducing high unemployment through entrepreneurial mindset development in African youth
Daniel Matsapola
SANSA
Using EO and IoT tools to Build and Support Smart Communities
David Thabo Tabane
Founder, Arose Technologies
Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)
Muteb Benedict
National Point of Contact, SGAC
Aviation, Aeronautical and Space Sciences Focus School
Col Alan James
STEM Developments
Driving Diversity and Inclusion through Technical Challenges Across Africa
Zviko Mudimu
DEA
11:00 – 11:30
Networking break and exhibition
11:30 – 13:30
TECHNICAL SESSION 3
The advancement of space to harness future technologies (AI, 4iR, SAR, Machine learning)
Moderator
Dr Naeem Agiee
Environmental Science Senior Researcher, Sappi Southern Africa
MicroSTAR – a bistatic radar solution to commoditise SAR
Willie Nel
Chief Radar Engineer, CSIR
The business case for Global Visioning Systems – FleetSAR Satellite Constellation
Thongwane Namane
SCS
Oscillation-based built-in self-testing: a promising approach for RF systems in orbit
Prof. Tinus Stander
UP
Integrating active learning and machine learning regression methods for hybrid retrieval of grass biophysical variables in a protected mountainous region using Sentinel-2 data
Dr Philemon Tsele
Senior Lecturer, UP
Improving the Efficiency of LoRa IoT Devices with AEM Systems and AI Techniques
Yolanda Nxumalo
YaAzi
Development of MHTS Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver and upgrade to VDES & Blue force Tracking AIS
Kgabo Mathapo
CTO, Motseni-Hi-TechSpace
13:30 – 14:00
Lunch break and exhibition
14:00 – 15:00
CLOSING SESSION
Highlights and Closing Remarks
National Space Conference Highlights
Adv. Lulu Makapela
Manager, NEOSS
Closing Remarks
Itumeleng Makoloi
Acting Chief Director, Space Science and Technology (SS&T), DSI
