Space technology

CSIR lends a hand to Sweden's SIRIUS 4 satellite in orbit It's the season for launch supports at the CSIR Satellite Applications Centre. Having seen the Skynet 5B satellite safely into orbit recently, the centre's tracking, telemetry and command team was called upon again to support the launch of a new Swedish telecommunications satellite, SIRIUS 4.

CSIR takes on chair of Committee on Earth Observation Satellites The exotic location of Kohala Coast, Hawai, was the backdrop for the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) plenary during November 2007 where leadership from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) was transferred to the CSIR.

CSIR to implement South Africa's earth observation framework Implementation of the South African Earth Observation Strategy (SAEOS) has been delegated to the CSIR Satellite Applications Centre by the Department of Science and Technology.

Skynet 5B joins satellite constellation with CSIR's help The critical role of supporting the launch of Skynet 5B, the second satellite of the Skynet 5 programme, was once again handed to the tracking, telemetry and command experts at the CSIR Satellite Applications Centre by French space agency, CNES (Centre National D'Étude Spatiales).

CSIR contributes to 'good health' of THEMIS constellation The THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) constellation of five probes is "in a very good state of health", thanks to the continued support by, amongst others, the CSIR's ground station at Hartebeesthoek.