Enabling more countries to access space through the KiboCUBE opportunity The Mauritian Experience Dr Vickram Bissonauth Research Coordinator Mauritius Research and Innovation Council mric.mu spacemauritius.com
8th October 2020 Acquired independence since 1968 The Republic of Mauritius Became a Republic in 1992
Total Area 2,040 sq Km EEZ 2.4M SqKm Population estimate 1,265,475 (2019)
GDP (PPP) USD 25,029
Per Capita GNI USD 12,050
Exclusive Economic 2.4 million sq km Zone (EEZ)
Currency Mauritian Rupee (MUR)
Ibrahim Index of African 1st in Africa Governance
World Bank Doing 1st in Africa Business 2020 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritius The Republic of Mauritius FROM A MONOCROP ECONOMY TO A ROBUST, DIVERSIFIED, INNOVATIVE AND KNOWLEDGE DRIVEN ECONOMY
INCREASE IN GDP GDP increased from USD 400 en 1968 to USD 12,000 in 2019;
STABLE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT Geopolitical situation opens many opportunities
INNOVATION DRIVEN ECONOMY Diversitfication of sectors from ict-bpo, to enhancement of ocean economy, looking forward to become a space faring country in 2021 WELFARE STATE Health and Education free. High Literacy rate
MULTICULTURAL COUNTRY A country where different cultures live together in peace and harmony Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC)
➢ Apex body, advisor to Government of Mauritius on all matters pertaining to Science Research and Innovation; ➢ Manages the ‘National Innovation Fund’ (MUR 100M) earmarked for financing research, development and innovative projects for the socio- economic benefit of Mauritius; ➢ Promotes collaboration between the 4 helices: Public private, academia and society; ➢ Fosters inclusive innovation, creation of new knowledge by Mauritians for Mauritius, builds capacity, engages into regional and international collaborations and seeks to explore new and emerging technologies for betterment of the lives and livelihood of Mauritians
www.mric.mu APPLYING TO THE KIBOCUBE PROGRAM The second attempt was successful
First Attempt Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Unsuccessful but our proposal was through the permanent the runner up. mission in Vienna called Weaknesses: for interest for application Ground Station to the KiboCube Program. Satellite Data Usage Outreach July 2018
Jan June 2017 2017
SECOND ATTEMPT – Won 3rd Kibocube Round
Local Radio Amateur Joined In Rewrote whole of proposal with technical review from AAC-Clyde AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FIRST MAURITIAN SATELLITE BUILDING CAPACITY IN SPACE AND SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY
ULTIMATELY TO INITIATE A SPACE PROGRAM Use on-board FOR MAURITIUS payload to capture Communicate with images of Mauritius the satellite once and its EEZ Build capacity in in space satellite/space Acquire satellite technology technology, knowledge and skills MAURITIUS IMAGERY & RADIOCOMMUNCATION SATELLTE -1 (MIR-SAT1)
Satellite Ground Station Registration
Mission Analysis Antennas Req. ITU – Advance Publication Preliminary Design Review Information (PDR)
Critical Design Review (CDR) Antenna Support Design MRIC Staff Licensing (ICTA)
JAXA Safety Assessment 012
Control & Operation Room Components Manufacturing Design & Setup IARU Frequency Coordination
Assembly, Integration & Testing Antenna Installation Registration of Ground Station & Satellite (ICTA) Test Readiness Review (TRR)
JAXA Safety Assessment 03
Delivery Subsystem Softstack FlastSat Integration & Testing Functional & Attitude Testing Acceptance Integration
Hardstack TRR EMC Testing Integration July 2020
EVT JAXA Fitpod Check Antenna & Solar panel Deployment Test August 2020 Registration
ITU – ADVANCE IARU COORDINATION PUBLICATION VHF – 145.9875 MHZ INFORMATION (API) FREQUENCY UHF – 436.925 MHZ COORDINATION
REGISTRATION OF MIR-SAT1 & MRIC STAFF – MRIC GROUND STATION WITH RADIO AMATEUR LOCAL AUTHORITY (ICTA) LICENSE MIR-SAT1: 3B8-MIR MRIC GROUND STATION: 3B8-MRC OUTREACH ACTIVITIES INTRODUCING SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY
UHF antenna
• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Receiving Ground Station Antenna
VHF antenna
Connection box • Band pass filter • Low Noise Amplifier MAURITIUS – SOON TO BE A SPACE FARING COUNTRY UNLOCKING NEW DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE SPACE SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY
FIRST NANOSATELLITE DELIVERY OF SATELLITE DEPLOYMENT IN SPACE NEW PERSPECTIVES Mauritius won the 3rd Round Construction completed in oct Deployment expected to be Working towards of the JAXA/UNOOSA 2020 and expected to be in May 2021 developing a space Kibocube program in 2018 delivered to JAXA in Nov 2020 program for Mauritius LESSONS LEARNT JOURNEY TO SPACE ALTHOUGH NOT EASY BUT EXTREMELY REWARDING AND OFFERS HIGHLY PROMISING FUTURE
MAURITIUS EMBARKS IN NEW SPACE ERA • Geolocation interesting for future space related activities • More advanced space ENTHOUSIASTIC YOUNGSTERS nations interested to collaborate • The training program we initiated gave us an insight of the high level of enthusiasm for this new BOOST IN TECHNICAL CAPACITY field. There is hope to enhance • Building the satellite was highly this interest further to build new technical capacity. • We set up a sophisticated ground GOVERNMENT FULLY SUPPORTIVE station for future missions • Training of younger generation • This historical initiative for the Republic of Mauritius promises to unlock new opportunities for A POTENTIALLY NEW SOCIO-ECONOMIC PILLAR? research, innovation and socio- • We became aware of the numerous economic development. possibilities that space offers. Data analytics, opportunities for R&D, business opportunities, intergovernmental collaborations. PROMOTING COLLABORATION AMONG SIDS USING SPACE TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACED BY SIDS
• As a SIDS Mauritius faces several challenges especially from Climate change • We envisage using Space/Satellite technology to tackle: SIDS AND SPACE OPPORTUNITIES
BELIEVE INDEGENOUS KNOWLEDGE = OUR INNOVATION We need to believe that we can do things Exchanges between SIDS important. on our own Collaborating can lead to creation of new knowledge and showcasing our own indigenous knowlege
OUR SITUATION = OUR UNIQUENESS COLLABORATION AND EXCHANGE Unique geographical position of SIDS in SIDS have many commonalities and ocean can provide opportunities for together we can address threats and find space exploration solutions MEET THE MIR-SAT1 TEAM
Dr Vickram Bissonauth Project Coordinator
Overall project management and coordination
Faraaz Shamutally Ziyaad Soreefan Aerospace Engineer Aerospace Engineer
Principal Investigator Co-Principal Investigator
Koushul Narrain Kiran Tatoree Research Assistant Research Assistant
Responsible for Ground Station Responsible for training of Students for Implementation Simplified Antenna and Ground station CONTACT US
ADDRESS PHONE Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (230) 465 1235 Level 6, Ebène Heights 34, Cybercity Ebène, Mauritius FACEBOOK mric E-MAIL [email protected] TWITTER [email protected] #mirsat1
WEBSITE www.mric.mu www.spacemauritius.com