CPUT to launch South African mini-constellation of three satellites

CPUT is expected to launch the first South African mini-constellation of three satellites for Maritime Domain Awareness (MDASat-1) towards the end of 2021. This mission, named MDASat-1, will use Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to monitor the waters off South Africa’s coast for shipping movements within our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). AIS is a radio system used for the tracking of maritime traffic, primarily for collision avoidance. The location messages received by the satellites from ships on the ocean beneath it is downloaded from the satellite when it passes over the ground station at CPUT. More

(Source: Space in Africa - Mar 17)