Various South African Space projects,concepts and associated equipment

[Graugrun]

The best pic that I have so far on the static test seen at the bottom right of voskhjod's post #39 above - I will add some more pics covering this aspect in the South African thread in the Propulsion section of this site (Research Topics).

This would have been in the late 1980's/early 1990's

 

[voskhod]

The best pic that I have so far on the static test seen at the bottom right of voskhjod's post #39 above - I will add some more pics covering this aspect in the South African thread in the Propulsion section of this site (Research Topics).

This would have been in the late 1980's/early 1990's

This ia an interesting (and known) picture, however in very poor quality.

 

[Thorn]

Greensat..

This is a great picture, thanks for sharing. I have the "those who had the power" book, and this is included. I always wondered about OTHER documentation of the satellite and the SLV (RSA-3) or the Arniston ballistic missile. Are there any good quality pictures of these systems? The Vehicle prior to launch, or preparations for static fire for example?

Voskhod - I certainly wish that we had more photos and documentation available! "Those who had the power" is certainly the best, most revealing and accurate book out there in terms of many of our secret programs, especially the ballistic and nuclear stuff. We are priviledged to have one of the authors active on this site (Thorn - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/members/thorn.30324/ ) - hopefully he can weigh in on some of your questions...

My picture in post #5 should have raised more eyebrows, as it clearly shows at least 4 Greensats in production... That should speak volumes as to our then space program!

The famous photo, often claimed to be of the supposed launch of one of our ICBM/MRBM missiles from Arniston (a coastal town), appears to rather be the launch of a U.S. MX Peacekeeper ICBM.. (see photo below).

I have posted some more info on our MRBM/ICBM's in the South African Missile thread: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...-pgms-prototypes-projects-concepts-etc.21179/

Hi Graugran

Thank you for your kind words.

Some more photos are coming pretty soon.

Check out my post today to voskhod.

Regarding that photo of the claimed launch of our ICBM/IRBM, I would willingly offer up some of my front teeth to see a close-up of the same.

Kind regards

Thorn.

 

[Thorn]

Years ago, this picture of RSA missile was published. It is NOT RSA-3, rather a shorter version, perhaps a member of the Arniston missile family.

Hi Voshkot

Here are some comments I have selected in A to your post(s).
Voshkot:-

: - Are there any good quality pictures of these systems?

I have a selection of colour pics of this system, showing close ups of things like the sat & thermal blanket inside the payload section, AKM, TEL hoist ‘arms’, other fittings on these that is beyond me, the business end of the first stage etc. Pertaining to the last pic, I had the opportunity to ‘knock’ on this nozzle, and it reminded me of ‘vark yster’, literally, pig-iron.
I have selected 14 pics, that will be scanned tomorrow & then check this sites’ rules as to what size I can post at any one time.

: - Years ago, this picture of RSA missile was published. It is NOT RSA-3, rather a shorter version, perhaps a member of the Arniston missile.
family.

Well spotted. I had the book - Armament and Disarmament: South Africa's Nuclear Experience - written by Hannes Steyn, Jan Van Loggerenberg and, Richardt Van Der Walt in my collection some years back. I think that this pic is from that book.
Standing in front of this shorter vehicle, I think is one of the authors.

Comparing this vehicle to the known RSA 3, it appears to have a shorter fuselage ahead of the 2nd interstage.

Regarding documentation, besides the marketing info concentrating on the RSA 4, I had a heck of a task getting info on the RSA 3. Pierre helpfully supplied me with the drawing of the RSA 3 showing its documented dimensions and other peripherals.

Very kind regards
Thorn.

 

[voskhod]

Years ago, this picture of RSA missile was published. It is NOT RSA-3, rather a shorter version, perhaps a member of the Arniston missile family.

Hi Voshkot

Here are some comments I have selected in A to your post(s).
Voshkot:-

: - Are there any good quality pictures of these systems?

I have a selection of colour pics of this system, showing close ups of things like the sat & thermal blanket inside the payload section, AKM, TEL hoist ‘arms’, other fittings on these that is beyond me, the business end of the first stage etc. Pertaining to the last pic, I had the opportunity to ‘knock’ on this nozzle, and it reminded me of ‘vark yster’, literally, pig-iron.
I have selected 14 pics, that will be scanned tomorrow & then check this sites’ rules as to what size I can post at any one time.

: - Years ago, this picture of RSA missile was published. It is NOT RSA-3, rather a shorter version, perhaps a member of the Arniston missile.
family.

Well spotted. I had the book - Armament and Disarmament: South Africa's Nuclear Experience - written by Hannes Steyn, Jan Van Loggerenberg and, Richardt Van Der Walt in my collection some years back. I think that this pic is from that book.
Standing in front of this shorter vehicle, I think is one of the authors.

Comparing this vehicle to the known RSA 3, it appears to have a shorter fuselage ahead of the 2nd interstage.

Regarding documentation, besides the marketing info concentrating on the RSA 4, I had a heck of a task getting info on the RSA 3. Pierre helpfully supplied me with the drawing of the RSA 3 showing its documented dimensions and other peripherals.

Very kind regards
Thorn.

THANKS in advance! Can't wait....

 

[Thorn]

Years ago, this picture of RSA missile was published. It is NOT RSA-3, rather a shorter version, perhaps a member of the Arniston missile family.

Hi Voshkot

Here are some comments I have selected in A to your post(s).
Voshkot:-

: - Are there any good quality pictures of these systems?

I have a selection of colour pics of this system, showing close ups of things like the sat & thermal blanket inside the payload section, AKM, TEL hoist ‘arms’, other fittings on these that is beyond me, the business end of the first stage etc. Pertaining to the last pic, I had the opportunity to ‘knock’ on this nozzle, and it reminded me of ‘vark yster’, literally, pig-iron.
I have selected 14 pics, that will be scanned tomorrow & then check this sites’ rules as to what size I can post at any one time.

: - Years ago, this picture of RSA missile was published. It is NOT RSA-3, rather a shorter version, perhaps a member of the Arniston missile.
family.

Well spotted. I had the book - Armament and Disarmament: South Africa's Nuclear Experience - written by Hannes Steyn, Jan Van Loggerenberg and, Richardt Van Der Walt in my collection some years back. I think that this pic is from that book.
Standing in front of this shorter vehicle, I think is one of the authors.

Comparing this vehicle to the known RSA 3, it appears to have a shorter fuselage ahead of the 2nd interstage.

Regarding documentation, besides the marketing info concentrating on the RSA 4, I had a heck of a task getting info on the RSA 3. Pierre helpfully supplied me with the drawing of the RSA 3 showing its documented dimensions and other peripherals.

Very kind regards
Thorn.

THANKS in advance! Can't wait....

Greetings Voshkot (and Graugrun)

I have perused the forum rules, but I am still unclear as to how many files I can attached at any one time, and the size(s) thereof.

I have 9 files that I wish to upload.

These are in the 400 - 500kb interval each.

All these pics were taken by me when I visited the AF Museum, some years ago, and by my friend ( Steve Mc Quillan), who had the better camera at that time, at my behest.

This is admittedly less then the 14 files that I had initially hoped to upload, but after reading the forum rules I did some trolling and found 5 images of acceptable quality that would make it superfilous to post these here as well.

These may be found at https://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/RSA_LV/Gallery/RSA.htm and http://www.astronautix.com/r/rsa-3.html

Kind regards

Thorn

​

 

[voskhod]

Years ago, this picture of RSA missile was published. It is NOT RSA-3, rather a shorter version, perhaps a member of the Arniston missile family.

Hi Voshkot

Here are some comments I have selected in A to your post(s).
Voshkot:-

: - Are there any good quality pictures of these systems?

I have a selection of colour pics of this system, showing close ups of things like the sat & thermal blanket inside the payload section, AKM, TEL hoist ‘arms’, other fittings on these that is beyond me, the business end of the first stage etc. Pertaining to the last pic, I had the opportunity to ‘knock’ on this nozzle, and it reminded me of ‘vark yster’, literally, pig-iron.
I have selected 14 pics, that will be scanned tomorrow & then check this sites’ rules as to what size I can post at any one time.

: - Years ago, this picture of RSA missile was published. It is NOT RSA-3, rather a shorter version, perhaps a member of the Arniston missile.
family.

Well spotted. I had the book - Armament and Disarmament: South Africa's Nuclear Experience - written by Hannes Steyn, Jan Van Loggerenberg and, Richardt Van Der Walt in my collection some years back. I think that this pic is from that book.
Standing in front of this shorter vehicle, I think is one of the authors.

Comparing this vehicle to the known RSA 3, it appears to have a shorter fuselage ahead of the 2nd interstage.

Regarding documentation, besides the marketing info concentrating on the RSA 4, I had a heck of a task getting info on the RSA 3. Pierre helpfully supplied me with the drawing of the RSA 3 showing its documented dimensions and other peripherals.

Very kind regards
Thorn.

THANKS in advance! Can't wait....

Greetings Voshkot (and Graugrun)

I have perused the forum rules, but I am still unclear as to how many files I can attached at any one time, and the size(s) thereof.

I have 9 files that I wish to upload.

These are in the 400 - 500kb interval each.

All these pics were taken by me when I visited the AF Museum, some years ago, and by my friend ( Steve Mc Quillan), who had the better camera at that time, at my behest.

This is admittedly less then the 14 files that I had initially hoped to upload, but after reading the forum rules I did some trolling and found 5 images of acceptable quality that would make it superfilous to post these here as well.

These may be found at https://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/RSA_LV/Gallery/RSA.htm and http://www.astronautix.com/r/rsa-3.html

Kind regards

Thorn

​

Thanks, Thorn. All the pictures you mentioned are very well known. I was hoping to see either some never before published pictures or some that are included in the book - like the RSA-3 in blue color - but in higher quality.

 

[Thorn]

Years ago, this picture of RSA missile was published. It is NOT RSA-3, rather a shorter version, perhaps a member of the Arniston missile family.

Hi Voshkot

Here are some comments I have selected in A to your post(s).
Voshkot:-

: - Are there any good quality pictures of these systems?

I have a selection of colour pics of this system, showing close ups of things like the sat & thermal blanket inside the payload section, AKM, TEL hoist ‘arms’, other fittings on these that is beyond me, the business end of the first stage etc. Pertaining to the last pic, I had the opportunity to ‘knock’ on this nozzle, and it reminded me of ‘vark yster’, literally, pig-iron.
I have selected 14 pics, that will be scanned tomorrow & then check this sites’ rules as to what size I can post at any one time.

: - Years ago, this picture of RSA missile was published. It is NOT RSA-3, rather a shorter version, perhaps a member of the Arniston missile.
family.

Well spotted. I had the book - Armament and Disarmament: South Africa's Nuclear Experience - written by Hannes Steyn, Jan Van Loggerenberg and, Richardt Van Der Walt in my collection some years back. I think that this pic is from that book.
Standing in front of this shorter vehicle, I think is one of the authors.

Comparing this vehicle to the known RSA 3, it appears to have a shorter fuselage ahead of the 2nd interstage.

Regarding documentation, besides the marketing info concentrating on the RSA 4, I had a heck of a task getting info on the RSA 3. Pierre helpfully supplied me with the drawing of the RSA 3 showing its documented dimensions and other peripherals.

Very kind regards
Thorn.

THANKS in advance! Can't wait....

Greetings Voshkot (and Graugrun)

I have perused the forum rules, but I am still unclear as to how many files I can attached at any one time, and the size(s) thereof.

I have 9 files that I wish to upload.

These are in the 400 - 500kb interval each.

All these pics were taken by me when I visited the AF Museum, some years ago, and by my friend ( Steve Mc Quillan), who had the better camera at that time, at my behest.

This is admittedly less then the 14 files that I had initially hoped to upload, but after reading the forum rules I did some trolling and found 5 images of acceptable quality that would make it superfilous to post these here as well.

These may be found at https://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/RSA_LV/Gallery/RSA.htm and http://www.astronautix.com/r/rsa-3.html

Kind regards

Thorn

​

Thanks, Thorn. All the pictures you mentioned are very well known. I was hoping to see either some never before published pictures or some that are included in the book - like the RSA-3 in blue color - but in higher quality.

Hi voskhod

The pics I do have tend to concentrate on more specific parts of the RSA-3 & its TEL. Where I have included some that have already appeared elsewhere, I am bargaining that these would be of higher quality than those already posted.

Regarding the blue RSA-3, in the book there are three images of this vehicle shown sequentely. However turning the page I was delighted to find another 2 image of the vehicle. Showing the mating of the 1st and second stages.

I am fortunate in having a computer whitehat/savant on premises, so I want to ask him to try to enhance (and enlarge) these for posting to this thread.

Kind regards.

Thorn

 

[Thorn]

Hi there

As promised I attached herewith 8 files.

The 9th one was by chance not scanned in with the rest.

Besides the pics of the blue RSA-3 I have discovered a pic showing the first and second stage nozzles of this vehicle side by side. This will unfortunately only be scanned next week as today and Monday are religous holidays and my wifes practise(where the photocopier is) is closed.

Kind regards

Thorn

 

[Graugrun]

I've just edited one of Thorn's pics for easier viewing, the caption states that it is RSA-3 and it took place at Rooiels - I cannot read the rest, however I assume that it's the first stage motor..?

 

[Thorn]

Hi Graugrun

Thank you. This was an upload to forget.

Firstly I posted one upside down, and then I noticed one (the single clear ground test one) that does not belong to me, but could only mistakenly have been attached from my computer.

Tsk...

Thorn

 

[Thorn]

Hi Guys

At last!

Pse see attached.

1 x blue RSA to follow. Being panelbeaten at present.

Enjoy.

Thorn

 

[voskhod]

Hi Guys

At last!

Pse see attached.

1 x blue RSA to follow. Being panelbeaten at present.

Enjoy.

Thorn

The blue pictures are scanned from the book, I presume. Now, THESE in high quality 9Not taken from the printed book) would be great to see.

 

[Thorn]

Hi Guys

At last!

Pse see attached.

1 x blue RSA to follow. Being panelbeaten at present.

Enjoy.

Thorn

The blue pictures are scanned from the book, I presume. Now, THESE in high quality 9Not taken from the printed book) would be great to see.

Hi Voskhod

Yes it is from the book unfortunately.

My guy worked on it for some time.

Hope its better.

Kind regards

Thorn

Ps: As I feared, the file was to large (31+ mb) to upload.

Is there perhaps another way that I can make it available to members of this thread?

T

 

[dan_inbox]

you could put it on a Google or MS drive, make it shared, and post the link.

 

[Thorn]

you could put it on a Google or MS drive, make it shared, and post the link.

Thanks

Will do

Thorn

 

[Thorn]

you could put it on a Google or MS drive, make it shared, and post the link.

Thanks

Will do

Thorn

Hi Guys,

See here

https://www.dropbox.com/s/49o4pa18aw4xs1q/RSA 3 -.png?dl=0

Thorn

 

[Graugrun]

Many thanks for your posts Thorn - you may also want to take a look at the thread I created for South African propulsion designs - the last post is of particular relevence to our Space/Nuclear program..

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/south-african-indigenous-propulsion-projects.39110/

 

[rocketZA]

Video from article in reference to post #26

66 second firing of ABLE demonstrator engine. Project lead by University of Kwa Zulu Natal team.

 

[Graugrun]

Many thanks for that rocketZA! Below another in that series to watch..

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdNaCI8H_vM

 

[thatdronedude]

Part and parcel of our then nuclear weapons program, many items of which were dual use and dependent on each other. Starting with GreenSat (a spy satellite now thinly veiled as an earth observation satellite), there is no point in having nuclear tipped MRBM/ICBM's without the necessary surveillance and early warning to know when to use them.

So GreenSat was built (a couple of them actually) as part of a constellation of spy satellites for South Africa. Naturally with the change of power looming in the early 90's, the Americans in particular where rather uneasy about this sort of technology and very particularly of their launch vehicles, landing up in the hands of a new government that had close ties with countries like Cuba/Russia/China/North Korea etc.

So massive pressure was put on us to shut it all down , with the only viable chance of survival being to commercialise it - something that apparently held promise but ultimately proved unsuccessful (we also denounced our nuclear weapons program and destroyed the 6 +1/2 bombs we declared - with some observers stating that these were just the tip of our nuclear weapons iceberg).

The article from Engineering News (South Africa) gives some interesting insight, although it's deduction is incorrect in that we wanted foreign partners to pay for the full development of GreenSat (we had already built at least 3 of them), I think that the rest is fairly close to what happened: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/why-greensat-stayed-grounded-2000-07-07

I thought nothing much of our space capabilities, however in recent years details of some of the countries we have assisted, and supplied our own built items to - for their own space programs is a bit of an eye opener - more on that later though.

I recently came across this interesting document while researching GreenSat. Reinforces what you state regarding outside pressure.

 

[Graugrun]

Something ground based this time - Antenna developed by EMSS - world class I believe... Including this little tid bit:

One potential opportunity EMSS has its eye on is the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s (NRAO)’s Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) radio telescope in North America. This is a proposed next-generation telescope with 263 dish antennas distributed across the continent. EMSS has already been supporting this over the last few years with pre-studies, concept designs and dish analysis.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerosp...tars-as-it-eyes-new-markets-and-technologies/

 

[Graugrun]

Science and Innovation invests R18, 9 million in the development of (more) nanosatellites for maritime industry​

Meanwhile, plans are underway to develop Denel’s Overberg Test Range (OTR) in the Western Cape as a facility to launch future CubeSats developed by the CPUT.

https://www.gov.za/speeches/science...-development-nanosatellites-maritime-industry

 

[Graugrun]

Something that I did not know about (even though I knew Mark Comninos at the time - I just didn't realise he was so far advanced in his endevours. I'll see if I can make contact with him again and get some more details directly from him ).

MarCom was started in 2002, and most of this info is from 2011ish.

The Cheetah 1 to 5 rockets for setting up SA's satellite program (After Denel was forced to close theirs down). Impressed that he had prototype engines developed etc.

(more on the propulsion in this thread: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/south-african-indigenous-propulsion-projects.39110/).


Marcom Aeronautics & Space was founded in 2002 and has been designing and developing the CHEETAH-1 CSLV. Capable of delivering a 1,000 kg payload into Low Earth Orbit.

The CHEETAH-1 is a two-stage design. The vehicle will be powered by two regenerative cooled liquid propellants, gas-generator cycle rocket engines. The first stage would be powered by a single rocket engine with a total sea level thrust of 860 kN, while the second stage would have a single 58-kN engine. The complete rocket would stand 31.7 m tall, including the two stages, the interstage and the nose cone.

It would be able to put a 1,000-kg payload into a 200-km orbit at an inclination of 34 degrees, or a 650-kg payload into a 200-km orbit at a declination of 90 degrees, or a 650-kg payload into a 200-km polar orbit. It would be able to accommodate payloads with a maximum diameter of 1.6 m, and a maximum length of 4.2 m.

Link to the full article below:

http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/CHEETAH-1/Description/Frame.htm

 

[rocketZA]

SAFFIRE/ABLE liquid engine in development by UKZN. Intended output of 25kN.

 

[Graugrun]

Launch of SA’s own radar satellites could take place in three years​

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerosp...r-satellites-could-take-place-in-three-years/

 

[rocketZA]

FYI...yesterday a mock-up of SA's proposed commerical launch vehicle was unvailed. But no proper pics or videos as of yet.

"One of the local space technology projects being highlighted at the NSC is SAFFIRE. This acronym stands for ‘South African First Integrated Rocket Engine’ and is a liquid propellant rocket being developed by the Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI) of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. SAFFIRE is intended to be a low-cost modular engine; ten such engines would power a South African-designed and developed small satellite launch rocket. On the first day of the conference the ASRI unveiled a scale model of their proposed commercial space launch rocket."

South Africa’s first comprehensive space conference taking place in Pretoria

South Africa’s inaugural National Space Conference (NSC) is currently under way in Pretoria (in Metropolitan Tshwane), at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s International Convention Centre. The NSC is jointly organised by the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), the...

www.engineeringnews.co.za

 

[Hamburger]

Any photo's of this South African-designed and developed small satellite launch rocket?

 

[kaiserbill]

An interesting video of some of the facilities at Houwteq.
You can see a satellite still on the premises at 1:15.
Vacuum chambers, anechoic chambers, vibration rooms...etc

Obviously not a very technical video, and done in the usual style that seems to be the fashion these days, but interesting inside look at some of the facilities used before the programme and facility was abruptly shut down with the new government in the 90's.

View: https://youtu.be/l9SXGDze1Fk?si=Eodm4HF63zAA6Lc1

 

[Thorn]

An interesting video of some of the facilities at Houwteq.
You can see a satellite still on the premises at 1:15.
Vacuum chambers, anechoic chambers, vibration rooms...etc

Obviously not a very technical video, and done in the usual style that seems to be the fashion these days, but interesting inside look at some of the facilities used before the programme and facility was abruptly shut down with the new government in the 90's.

View: https://youtu.be/l9SXGDze1Fk?si=Eodm4HF63zAA6Lc1

Very cool post, thanks.

A veritable time capsule.

Regards

Thorn

 

[rocketZA]

Work on a South African launch vehicle is said to be continuing behind the scenes with all the usual suspects involved via a technical collaboration of sorts.

 

[rocketZA]

Update on commercial launch vehicle

View: https://youtu.be/j1tHzWYnLZw?si=C6lZFsbGaaw2Jcx-

 

[rocketZA]

Latest test fire of SAFFIRE engine

View: https://youtu.be/PlxXDdR3HDQ?si=7r_RbtMvIX8TzGoB

 

[voskhod]

After so many decades, still not a single picture of the RSA 3 in preparations before a test launch. Not a single picture of the "mystery" TEL (just the drawing from the book). I found it to be extremely rare - even (once) secret images from Kapustin Yar are out there...

 

[rocketZA]

A page from an investigation into the CLV

 

[rocketZA]

UKZN ASRI ground test engine

 

[Graugrun]

After so many decades, still not a single picture of the RSA 3 in preparations before a test launch. Not a single picture of the "mystery" TEL (just the drawing from the book). I found it to be extremely rare - even (once) secret images from Kapustin Yar are out there...

The reason for that is because they are in use elsewhere (in other countries).

 

[Graugrun]

UKZN ASRI ground test engine

Some very nice pics you've posted there rocketZA! The ones of the various models is most interesting - I wonder when 'Steve' is scheduled to launch?

 

[Graugrun]

SA's SAR Satellite Development

Relates to my post #66 above..

 

[rocketZA]

Some very nice pics you've posted there rocketZA! The ones of the various models is most interesting - I wonder when 'Steve' is scheduled to launch?

Steve is scheduled for late 2025/early 2026 from what I heard. Conflicting info on if it will be pressure fed or if development of SAFFIRE engine electo-pumps will be complete by then.