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Russian satellite laser and radio ranging system «SAZHEN-TM+OWS» has officially been inaugurated in South Africa

Last Updated on Sunday, 09 July 2017 09:58 | Print | Email | Hits: 10059

On the 27th of February 2017 the Russian satellite ranging system «Sazhen-TM+OWS» was officially opened at the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO). The opening was led by Dr. Thomas Auf der Heyde of the Department of Science and Technology and Mr. Sergey Saveliev of the Russian State Space Corporation «Roscosmos». Among the guests were officials from JC «RPC «PSI» (the contractor responsible for the production and installation), HartRAO, the DST (SA), the NRF, as well as the Deputy Head of the Mission of the Russian Embassy in South Africa.
 

Top: Group photo of Russian and South African delegates attending the opening function.













Left: Ribbon cutting by Dr Thomas Auf der Heyde, Deputy Director-General: Research Development and Support, Department of Science and Technology and Mr Sergey Saveliev, Deputy Director General, State Space Corporation «Roscosmos».

The Deputy Director General on International Cooperation of the State Space Corporation «Roscosmos», Mr. Sergey Saveliev said (sic): “The history of the relationship between South Africa and Russia counts more than 25 years of mutually beneficial and successful cooperation and friendship. The launch of a new high-tech space system produced by Russia and installed within South Africa is not only another confirmation of our friendly relations but also a solid ground for further development of the scientific cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa.”
 
Director General of JC «RPC «PSI», Dr. Yury Roy said (sic): “We are happy to see the result of our collaborative work and feel optimistic about future endeavours – we  express our readiness to take part in potential new projects in collaboration with the South African party.”
 
Acting Managing Director of HartRAO, Prof. Ludwig Combrinck said (sic): “At the present moment we are developing cooperation with Russian institutions and enterprises at multiple levels, and today's event is another step forward in the field of science for both our countries.”
 
The system «Sazhen-TM+OWS» installed in South Africa has become the second laser and radio ranging system of the foreign segment of the «Roscosmos» network of stations developed in support of GLONASS (the Russian GLObal NAvigation Satellite System). The first «Sazhen-TM+OWS» system was commissioned on 14 July 2014 in the city of Brasilia, Brazil. This system is designed to perform precision orbital measurements of spacecraft – those equipped with laser retro-reflectors. The system can range to satellites with an orbital altitude of up to 25 000 km, do continuous tracking of navigation signals of the GLONASS and GPS satellites, perform measurement of the current navigation parameters and receive navigation messages transmitted from the satellites.

  

DST News article:


Russian press releases:

Unofficial translation: Swedish
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