FOSTERING NEW SPACE IN AFRICA

Ms. Leehandi de Witt i Sales & Marketing Manager

co-author: Mr. James Barrington-Brown
Email: ldw@newspacesystems.com

26 Workshop on Space Technology for Socio-Economic Benefits:

"Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure for Development (3Is4D)
28 September 2017
OVERVIEW
• Founding NewSpace in Cape Town, South Africa

• Defining new space / alt.space today

• Reframing our focus: Space 4.0

• Relevance: why new space is crucial

• Fostering new space – the stakeholders

• Summary

• Questions?

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NEWSPACE SYSTEMS i the founding
2008 GENESIS. Satellite Services Ltd. (UK) wins OG2 Reaction Wheel
contract to manufacture 72 reaction wheels (TUB partner)
2013 GENESIS. Joint venture between the Dutch Group, SSBV & the
South African group, SCS Aerospace Group.
2015 SSBV UK assets purchased and transferred to NewSpace Systems.
TODAY. Progressive employer who is upskilling the local workforce &
2018 stimulating the local supply chain. Exporting its ADCS products to
over 19 countries, on 5 continents, working with 6 trusted resellers &
with facilities in both South Africa and the United Kingdom.
30 NewSpace Job Creation
25
20
15
10
5
0
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Number of Employees
Yea
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 NEWSPACE vs. i
Limitations of the TRADITIONAL SATELLITE MARKET
definition

EMERGING MARKET / NewSpace

NewSpace Systems is part of the globally emerging, private space industry
revolutionizing the satellite industry through the small satellite philosophy of:
“FASTER, BETTER, CHEAPER”

Planet Labs Flock 1 Satellites

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REFRAMING OUR FOCUS i space 4.0

SPACE 4.0 ”is characterised as a new playing

field unfolding through interaction between
governments, private sector and society. To meet
the challenges and to proactively develop the
different aspects of Space 4.0, the European
space sector can become globally competitive
only by fully integrating into European society
and economy. This requires a sustainable
space sector closely connected with the fabric
of society and economy. For this to happen,
space must be safe, secure and easily and
readily accessible, and built on a foundation of
excellence in science and technology – broadly
and continuously over time”.
– ESA ministerial council 2016

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 NEW SPACE i relevance
Satellite Roadmap

WHERE
LimitingNEW
factorSPACE COMES IN
to sustainability

Refocuses economy: high-tech

Builds skilled labour force

Fosters local supply chain

Builds skilled labour force

Benefits other industries

Applications: WIDER SOCIETAL BENEFIT

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 NEW SPACE i stakeholders
What is needed to create a sustainable nascent space industry

GOVERNMENT
• National Programme: Tech Demo & IP
Generation
• Funding: Support Academia & SME’s
• Strategic Partnerships
• Etc.

INDUSTRY
• Revenue through exports & TAX which funds
future GOV projects
• Job opportunities & environment which supports ACADEMIA
start-ups • R&D & IP Generation
• Stimulates other industries by building up local • Skilled future workers
supply chains
• Commercially driven = improved sustainability &
more reliable access to various applications &
services = wider societal benefits
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SUMMARY i why new space matters
SHORTCOMING
Current government space programmes, especially in developing
countries, have non-reliable sources of funding. This results in the
non-consistent stimulation of the industry and leads to:
1. The regression of the nascent capabilities and
infrastructure
2. A reduction in long-term benefits to wider society & the
use of space technology to address pervasive social
issues

SOLUTION – a self-sustainable space industry

Nascent space faring nations should foster an environment which
is more commercially focused and thus more likely to result in
tangible deliverables. With this approach the upstream
developments will focus more heavily on the downstream
requirements.
THANK YOU!

Questions?

Contract:
Ms. Leehandi de Witt
ldw@newspacesystems.com