Early warnings and space weather forecasts are crucial for protecting satellites, national power grids, communications and navigation systems from the harmful effects of solar storms and other space weather phenomena. 

"SANSA is a designated centre within the International Space Environment Service and contributes this service as the regional warning centre for space weather in Africa," said Ms Andiswa Mlisa, acting CEO of SANSA.

“The establishment of this capability includes infrastructure development, instrumentation deployment, product and service development, and capability development through an investment in the required skills. The establishment project commenced in October 2019 and was completed on time and on budget by the end of September 2022,” said Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell, Managing Director at SANSA Hermanus.

The Department of Science and Innovation has made huge investments in establishing a world-class space weather capability that will not only benefit South Africa, but also the rest of Africa.  The department’s entity, South African National Space Agency (SANSA), developed the new capability.  SANSA had been operating a Space Weather Centre for the past ten years, with limited focus.  It has worked on monitoring the sun and its activity and providing space weather forecasts, warnings, alerts and environmental data on space weather conditions.

"The operational capability has been developed over the past three years and, to date, the DSI has invested over R70,89 million for the establishment of the 24/7 space weather capability," said the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Minister , when he officially opened the centre.

This development represents the value of science, technology and innovation in building new applications and technologies in South Africa, and in solving global challenges through the research-to-operations value chain.

In keeping with its objective of supporting the development of a critical mass of skills and expertise needed to give effect to national space initiatives, SANSA supported 46 postgraduate students in key space science disciplines in the 2021/22 financial year. A total of 29 800 learners also benefited from SANSA outreach and space awareness initiatives.