Africa2Moon Project Selected for Moon Mission
The Africa2Moon Project, which aims to deploy a low-frequency radio telescope on the Moon, has been selected as a payload for China’s Chang’e-8 mission, scheduled to land at the lunar south pole. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced the successful selection during China Space Day in Shanghai on 24 April 2025. Led by the Foundation for Space Development Africa, this African initiative represents a landmark achievement for the continent’s space aspirations and underscores Africa’s growing contribution to global space science
The project, led by Founder and Mission Director Dr Carla Sharpe Mitchell and Dr Adriana Marais- Director and Head of Science for the Project- comprises two distinct missions. The first will deploy a technology demonstrator on the Moon’s south pole region, consisting of four antennas, establishing the first radio astronomy array on the lunar surface. The second mission will place 54 antennas on the far side of the Moon, with each antenna symbolically representing one African nation. Through these efforts, Africa2Moon seeks to develop a low-cost, low-mass array of spherical antennas—known as BALLS (Bounced African Lunar Low Spheres)—designed to detect radio frequencies below 10 MHz, thereby advancing Africa’s contribution to lunar-based radio astronomy.
“At the Foundation for Space Development Africa, we believe it is time for Africa to expand its role in space exploration,” says Dr Marais, adding that “through the power of collaboration, Africa2Moon will serve as a continent-wide inspiration and enabler for space-related activities; to educate, inspire and pave the way for African scientists to aspire to achieve world-firsts.”
Scientific Goals and Way Forward
According to the Mission Director, Africa2Moon aims to observe a range of radio emissions, including those from solar bursts, Earth’s aurora, Jupiter, the galaxy’s diffuse glow, and the lunar surface itself. With the project now confirmed as a payload, the team is progressing with developing two core models: an electrical functional model and a structural model. The electrical functional model will demonstrate how the antennas and supporting systems operate collectively, including their integration with the lunar lander.
The structural model will represent the system’s physical configuration, demonstrating how it is engineered to withstand the rigours of launch, extreme temperatures, vacuum conditions, and the Moon’s reduced gravity. Together, these models are essential to ensuring the mission’s scientific viability and technical robustness, while offering partners a clear understanding of how the project will function in practice. As the final step, the Flight Model, which represents the fully operational version of the Africa2Moon system, which is to be delivered to the launch provider. Rigorously tested to meet all mission and integration requirements, it is designed to endure the harsh conditions of launch and lunar deployment, including vibration, acceleration, vacuum, extreme temperatures, and reduced gravity. This model marks the culmination of the project’s development, ready to execute its scientific objectives on the Moon’s surface.