Cape Town, South Africa – Three teenage girls have designed Africa’s first private satellite, set to launch into space in 2017. The innovative trio, all under the age of 20, hope their invention can provide answers and help mitigate the ongoing drought crisis in South Africa.

The Marang Space Technology Constellation (MSTC) team consists of school girls Kgaugelo Masilo, Phumla Dube, and Nompumelelo Nkosi from the rural town of Mokopane in Limpopo province. The young women have been working on their project since 2014 with guidance from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).

The satellite, named “Marang,” meaning “rain” in the local Tshivenda language, will use state-of-the-art technology to monitor rainfall patterns and soil moisture levels across southern Africa. This crucial data can be used for improved agriculture forecasting and drought management strategies. The information gathered could also benefit other areas prone to natural disasters like floods or wildfires.

Background Information: The South African government has been grappling with severe water shortages, primarily in Cape Town, due to a prolonged dry period. The city is currently implementing drastic water-saving measures, including rationing and limiting non-essential use of water. However, scientists warn that these efforts may not be enough if the drought continues into 2018.

The MSTC project was born out of a desire to address this pressing issue while inspiring young girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Kgaugelo Masilo expressed her excitement about the potential impact: “We want our satellite to contribute positively towards our community by providing vital data for drought management.”

Important Details: The team is one of many groups worldwide participating in the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition, which challenges teams to design and build a robot that can explore the moon’s surface. Although they didn’t win the contest (worth $30 million), their innovative spirit led them to focus on creating a satellite instead.

The girls have already completed several critical steps in designing their satellite. They have built an airtight test chamber for simulating space conditions and conducted successful tests with mock satellites made from styrofoam and aluminum foil. SANSA engineers are now helping them refine the design using more advanced materials and technology.

The launch is scheduled for 2017 through the European Space Agency’s Vega rocket, which will carry multiple small satellites into orbit at once. Once in space, Marang will communicate with ground stations in South Africa and Europe to transmit its data.

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