The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has announced the signing of a significant agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), marking a major milestone in South Africa’s participation in international space programs. This historic partnership solidifies SANSA’s inclusion in NASA’s global Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) programme and will see the establishment of a NASA antenna facility at the Matjiesfontein (MTJ) site.
The MTJ ground station was launched in anticipation of hosting a NASA facility for the Artemis program. The agreement affirms this. That we will be part of NASA’s efforts to take humans back to the Moon while preparing for life on Mars is an achievement that will be keeping us on our toes for the next two years as we prepare the facility.
Eugene Avenant, Chief Engineer and Acting Executive Director, SANSA Space Operations
NASA is evolving its networks to meet the needs of Artemis and our international partners are key to this effort. We are thrilled to be working with SANSA and look forward to the MTJ LEGS site having a long-term role in humanity’s return to the Moon.
Kevin Coggins, Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN), NASA
The signed agreement outlines the collaborative responsibilities for the funding, development, operation and maintenance of the NASA antenna facility at MTJ. NASA views spacecraft tracking services from the Southern hemisphere as a critical component of the Artemis program. In addition to offering conducive atmospheric conditions, the MTJ site in the Western Cape is ideally positioned to provide space vehicle tracking and communications links to the global space market.
Avenant added that the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) continues to contribute to the project through technical and financial support for the construction of the facility. Construction is progressing well with the site cleared and the access road being prepared for the security fence installation. The site designs are being finalised with projected construction completion in the third quarter of 2026.
This strategic partnership between SANSA and NASA marks the next step in SANSA’s journey to position South Africa as a leader in the African space science and technology sector. It will create numerous opportunities for knowledge transfer, capacity building, and workforce development.
