NASA and SANSA Partner to Establish New Antenna Facility for Lunar Exploration
The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has signed a groundbreaking agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a new antenna facility at the Matjiesfontein (MTJ) site. The facility will join NASA’s Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) programme, which supports the Artemis missions to return humans to the Moon. It further lays the groundwork for future Mars exploration.
Eugene Avenant, SANSA’s Chief Engineer and Acting Executive Director, expressed enthusiasm, noting that this partnership underscores South Africa’s critical role in supporting NASA’s lunar ambitions. “The MTJ ground station was launched in anticipation of hosting a NASA facility for the Artemis program. The deal further affirms this. That we will be part of NASA’s efforts to take humans back to the Moon while preparing for life on Mars. This is an achievement that will keep us on our toes for the next two years as we prepare the facility,” Eugene stated.
NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN), Kevin Coggins, highlighted the importance of international collaboration. “NASA is evolving its networks to meet the needs of Artemis, and our international partners are key to this effort. We are thrilled to work with SANSA and look forward to the MTJ LEGS site’s long-term role in humanity’s return to the Moon.”
The signed agreement outlines the collaborative responsibilities for funding, developing, operating, and maintaining the NASA antenna facility at MTJ. NASA considers spacecraft tracking services from the Southern Hemisphere a critical component of the Artemis program. The MTJ site in the Western Cape is ideally positioned and provides space vehicle tracking and communications links to the global space market.
Role of the New Facility
The new antenna facility will be crucial in spacecraft tracking and communications, leveraging MTJ’s favourable geographic location and atmospheric conditions. In addition, construction is already underway, with the site expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2026. The South African Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation provides technical and financial backing for this project.
This collaboration strengthens SANSA’s position in the global space community and opens opportunities for capacity building and workforce development in South Africa. The agreement also marks a significant milestone in advancing the African space sector, further integrating the continent into critical global space exploration missions and fostering optimism for the future.