Following the United Nations calendar, space-faring nations recognise and celebrate the space event from the 4-10th October each year, known as World Space Week and Zimbabwe is no different, having celebrated its first World Space Week in October of 2018.
The Zimbabwe World Space Week gives launch support to local space clubs as well as promote the incorporation of satellite development training into tertiary level institutions. World Space Week Zimbabwe is currently coordinated by the National Coordinator, Mr Timothy Kuhamba, working closely with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, headed by Honourable Dr Amon Murwira.
WSW commenced in 1980 as a celebration of the first moon landing and has evolved into a global event that celebrates advances in space capacity for the betterment of all humankind, in line with the preamble of the Outer Space Treaty. In 1999, the UN General Assembly declared “World Space Week” a global event to be held every year from the 4th to 10th October. Each year the WSW Accossiation Board of Directors selects a theme that highlights a pertinent aspect of space with a broad appeal to humanity.
The theme for 2019 is The Moon: Gateway to the Stars. In light of this, the Ministry is partnering with the rest of the globe in celebrating the milestone achievements by space-faring nations and Zimbabwe in particular, which has taken bold steps in enhancing the nation’s capacity in developing and utilising space technologies. The Ministry has, therefore, commissioned the organisation of a public lecture and presentation to celebrate this important week on the space calendar.
Last year the celebrations consisted of some space-related seminars in tandem with a Space Quiz sponsored by DSTV for high school learners. Plenary discussions also conducted during the Week gave rise to some conceptual frameworks to enlarge Zimbabwe’s satellite footprint, namely the intention to launch a mission idea contest which will require the presentation of ideas on the payload for Zimbabwe’s first satellite. Inclusiveness in building space capacity in Zimbabwe is also at the core of the innovation hubs that have been established by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology at seven institutions of higher learning.
WSW holds a particular significance for Zimbabwe as an emerging space nation, as it recently established the Zimbabwe National and Geospatial Space Agency (ZINGSA) in July of 2018. ZINGSA intends to focus on using satellites to advance geospatial science, earth observation and satellite communication systems. Zimbabwe has been lagging behind regional countries and the world at large in terms of technological development. Although the country is predicated on mining and agriculture, mapping and mineral exploration needs more attention. Another core focus of the space agency will be using satellites to further renewable energy mapping for the country. The space agency is also expected to contribute to the counting of wildlife population as the country looks for ways of protecting wildlife, a critical component of the tourism industry.
This year’s celebrations were slightly delayed and dated for the 28th October, as decided by the organising committee. The event is to take at the University of Zimbabwe and aims at creating awareness of the opportunities that abound in developing space technologies and the broader space sciences. Questions have arisen on the feasibility of space applications for a country such as Zimbabwe already burdened by socio-economic turmoil, but it is the belief that these same space technologies are the magic bullets to Zimbabwe’s challenges by as it will fill the technological gap, and usher the country into the 4th Industrial Revolution. The programmes scheduled for the event are:
Space Quiz
The quiz focuses on the benefits of space technologies when used sustainably in Zimbabwe, and its theme follows ZINGSA’s commitment to raising awareness of satellite technology. Eight schools consisting of three students per team will participate in the competition slated for broadcast on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
Public Awareness Articles on WSW and ZINGSA
Significant media exposure is required to make the event a success, and various media campaigns via television, radio, and newspapers will be supplemented by the publishing of academic materials.
Development of HEPSAT
The highlight of the WSW will be a presentation by the National Coordinator on his experience at the 10th CanSat Leadership training held in Tokyo, Japan from the 16-30th of August 2019, that provided an opportunity to engineers to learn and cultivate space engineering techniques using HEPSAT, a model satellite used for training spacecraft systems utilisation in a short space of time. The National Coordinator is expected to discuss the complete cycle of small satellite (HEPTA-Sat) development from design and implementation to launch. Students will learn the subsystems of satellites including structure, electrical power supply, command and data handling, communication, ground station, and sensors as well as how to integrate those subsystems to create a working satellite.
Main Space Week Commemorations Day Presentation
The main event will be conducted by the Honourable Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, who will give a keynote address, followed by the presentation of papers by experts at the event, such as:
- A presentation by the Director-general of Portraz who was a sponsor of the training received by the National Coordinator.
- A presentation of the overview of space technologies.
- A presentation on ZINGSA projects.
- A presentation on the document for the development, launch, and operation of small satellites (Cube satellites) for Zimbabwean universities.
- Space clubs within tertiary institutions,
- Launch of the Mission Idea Contest (which is expected to run for three months).
The event is expected to attract over 500 participants, 200 of which will be schoolchildren, 180 from institutions of higher learning and a further 120 for guests and the remaining allotment for interested participants from the public. The plenary discussions will receive support from an information desk, career guidance talks and exhibit.
