Russia is Key Partner in Advancing South Africa's Space Mission, SANSA Board Chairman Says
Russia is Key Partner in Advancing South Africa's Space Mission, SANSA Board Chairman Says
"Since South Africa restarted its space programs in the 1990s, we have received most of our support from the Russian Federation," Patrick Ndlovu, board chairman of the South African National Space Agency, told Sputnik Africa on the occasion of Cosmonautics Day celebrated on Saturday.
Pretoria is "confident" that its future in the space sector will be "naturally growing" through the collaboration with the Russia, said Ndlovu, who is also the CEO of Infinity Integrated Solutions.
At the same time, South Africa itself significantly contributes to global space efforts by hosting equipment from international space agencies and satellite operators, thanks to its strategic location, the expert noted.
"South Africa is hosting a space debris-tracking telescope from Roscosmos, which is a major advancement on that one because it's also cementing the relationship between ourselves and Russia," he gave an example.
Despite Western pressure to distance itself from Russia after the Ukrainian conflict began, South Africa has maintained a bust of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin at a space facility, to preserve the legacy of the first man in space for young South Africans, the official added.
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