South African Startup CubeSpace Fuels NASA Missions and Lunar Exploration

In a significant boost to South Africa's growing space industry, CubeSpace—a home-grown satellite component manufacturer—is supplying crucial parts for NASA's satellite missions and a lunar rover project. Born out of technological innovations at Stellenbosch University (SU), CubeSpace has matured into a beacon of advanced engineering, fostering the nation's capabilities on an extraterrestrial scale.

CEO Mike-Alec Kearney, a visionary leading the charge, elaborated on how the company has successfully built and delivered over 5,000 satellite components, including 300 complex control systems, since its inception a decade ago. These systems are the linchpins of satellite functionality, enabling precise maneuvers in the vast arena of space.

Underpinning Kearney's ambitious mission for CubeSpace is the goal of setting a global standard for control systems fitting satellites of all sizes. The company's portfolio resonates with his aspiration, boasting over 150 clients that include major space agencies, private enterprises, and research institutions worldwide.

The local expertise harnessed by CubeSpace's 55-strong workforce encompasses the design, production, and assembly of satellite parts within South Africa’s borders. Despite importing some electronics, the heart of their operations—the conception and realization of product configurations—is distinctly South African.

Their tailor-made components and systems have caught the discerning eye of NASA, underscoring CubeSpace's prowess. Being subcontracted by one of the world's foremost space agencies amplifies the profound niche technical specialities housed within CubeSpace's team.

Further afield, the company’s horizon stretches to the moon, with ongoing collaborations to construct control systems for a lunar lander under development in the United Arab Emirates. CubeSpace is set to infuse this rover with the "brains" and drive mechanisms needed to traverse the extraterrestrial landscape.

As testimony to its escalating success, CubeSpace’s revenue has soared, growing by over 50% annually since its establishment. Riding the wave of a global satellite industry surge—showcasing a staggering 1,000% increase in space-bound launches over the last ten years—CubeSpace recently secured R47 million from the University Technology Fund and Savant Venture Fund. This venture capital will fuel further expansion and enable CubeSpace to accommodate the component needs of larger satellites.

The symbiotic relationship between Stellenbosch University and CubeSpace continues, with SU retaining a stake in the enterprise, sharing ownership with the original founders and new investors. Anita Nel, CEO of SU Enterprises, spotlighted CubeSpace as a sterling archetype of the untapped potential nesting within university-borne technologies as a valuable asset class.

In the tailwinds of CubeSpace's ascent lie the prospects of a robust South African presence in global high-tech markets and the enrichment of the country's scientific and technological landscapes. With CubeSpace's developments at the forefront, South Africa takes a bold step into the final frontier.