Welcome to our bumper edition of Motion Control.
We have an aerospace feature this issue and it was with aerospace in mind that I recently spent a fascinating afternoon at the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory in the Magaliesburg.
Over the years South African space scientists have played a huge role in space mission support. In the late 1950s NASA needed round the globe tracking coverage for its deep space unmanned missions. The launch path of the space probes from Cape Canaveral passed directly over South Africa at the critical earliest phase and Hartebeesthoek's deep space dish antenna was able to give the first confirmation of a successful launch. Did you know that South Africans accurately tracked and predicted the re-entry of Sputnik 1 into the earth’s atmosphere in 1957 – and that the first images of Mars were received from the Mariner IV spacecraft at Hartebeesthoek? Other projects ranged from the Pioneer missions into deep space, to the Surveyor lunar Landings, to the Mariner V mission to Venus and the Apollo 15 mission to the moon. Hartebeesthoek made a vital contribution to space research during those crucial, early years of space exploration and provided tracking support for up to 38 spacecraft – definitely something to be proud of.
I recently enjoyed Sarah Wild’s book ‘Searching African Skies: The Square Kilometre Array and South Africa’s Quest to Hear the Songs of the Stars’, which traces the history of astronomy in South Africa and explains how South Africa came to be awarded the SKA project. The SKA Array is another example where luck was on our side geographically because the Karoo has a very low level of electronic noise; but we rose to the occasion, which is why we won the right to host it. It will be the biggest scientific experiment ever and will comprise thousands of antennas, and will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world by a long way. It will enable astronomers to monitor the sky in unprecedented detail and survey it thousands of times faster than any current system; and it will attempt to answer some of science’s most intriguing questions, like: is there other life in the universe; how do galaxies form; and what is dark matter?
The SKA will us bring prestige and cutting-edge science, but the African VLBI Network (very long baseline interferometry) is almost as exciting. Here four or more radio telescopes observe a single celestial object simultaneously and in effect act as one big telescope. Started by the observatory’s managing director, the late Mike Gaylard, this home-grown astronomy project is linking obsolete telecommunications dishes all over Africa. It will also contribute to building the skills needed for the continent to host part of the SKA. Radio astronomy has been recognised as a way to increase innovation and drive skills development. At home the SKA is building a growing pool of engineers, scientists, technicians and artisans who can work on the different aspects of radio astronomy and SKA South Africa has awarded more than 400 scholarships and bursaries to students.
Something else to be proud of: I love the story just out about the South African pupil, Dario Trinchero, who scored the highest maths mark in the world in the prestigious International Cambridge AS levels. “It's not that I am inherently gifted,” he says. “I think it's because I am so passionate about it."
I wonder if he will become an astronomer.
For space dreamers
Have you ever wondered what it’s like in space? We cover another exhibition that I’ll definitely be going to – Gateway to Space. This ‘invites space dreamers to set their imagination free, cross thresholds and experience the excitement of mankind’s adventure in space’. There will be a walk-in replica of the Mir space station core module, built at an angle to give the effect of vertigo. Other exhibits include four original space suits, a real moon rock, the original Multi-Axis Trainer, a glimpse of a scale-model space toilet, the food astronauts eat in space and a model of the Orion capsule, which is designed for future missions to Mars.
Maintenance, reliability and asset optimisation
The 2016 edition of our Technews Industry Guide: Maintenance, Reliability & Asset Optimisation is now out. We are aiming to arm the maintenance professional with a one-stop definitive resource that covers everything from in situ sensor-based solutions for condition monitoring, through handheld portable devices for periodic maintenance related checks, through software solutions for analysis and reporting, to customised services like reliability management consulting and training. To receive yours, email subs@technews.co.za with your details and please send ‘TIG M+R’ in the subject line.
Kim Roberts
Editor
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