Skip to content
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Valor Culture
      • We're a rare group of bold, creative specialists who have reimagined an entire business.
      • We Are Hotelitarians
      • Meet Our People
      • Our Story + Values
      • Join Our Team
  • Services
      • We bring a full set of services and do it with bold ambition.
          • Hotel Management
              • Pre-Opening
              • Marketing + Sales
              • Operations
              • Revenue Management
          • Dine, Design + Curate
              • Expertise
              • Concepts
              • Branding + Design
              • Operations
              • Marketing
          • New Development + Rebranding
              • Location
              • Branding + Design
              • Technical Services
              • Hotel Repositioning + Renovation
          • Investments + Acquisitions
              • Hotel Investments
              • Investment Strategy
              • Turnaround + Distressed Situations
              • Capital Markets Expertise
              • Acquisition Underwriting
          • Asset Management
              • Portfolio Optimisation
              • Property Level Optimisation
              • Capital Transaction Support
              • Portfolio Owner Services
          • Specialties
              • Luxury + Lifestyle
              • Golf + Leisure
              • Spa + Fitness
  • Case Studies
      • Our results speak for themselves.
      • Operations Value Add
      • Asset Management
      • New Development + Expansion
      • Rebranding + Renovations
      • Conversions
      • Environmental, Social + Governance
  • Global Portfolio
      • Around the world we are reimagining hospitality.
      • Global Portfolio
      • Properties Americas
      • Properties UK + Europe
      • Properties Middle East + CIS
      • Properties South Africa
      • Properties North + West Africa
  • ESG + Sustainability
      • We are committed to making a positive impact.
      • Mission + Objectives
      • ESG Initiatives
      • Achievements
  • News + Press
      • There is always something happening here.
      • Latest News
      • Awards

Matjiesfontein Ground Station Sod-turning Ceremony

ADDRESS BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION, DR PHIL MJWARA, AT THE SOD-TURNING CEREMONY FOR THE DEEP SPACE GROUND STATION AT MATJIESFONTEIN ON 8 NOVEMBER 2022

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and gentlemen:

It is my privilege to speak to you today as South Africa marks another milestone in its long history of space science and its deep space collaboration with America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

South African personnel working at the Hartebeesthoek deep space tracking station in South Africa in the late 1950s and 60s helped gather data for NASA’s Apollo Moon landing, and today, we break ground for a new space vehicle tracking and communications ground station here in Matjiesfontein.  This will contribute to further and deeper exploration of space – perhaps sending astronauts on a mission to Mars in a decade or two.

Meanwhile, the South Africa-NASA partnership will see continued skills development in space science and technology, which the Department of Science and Innovation has been investing in for years.  The skills we build will have applications in other fields too, and we expect the exciting prospects of space exploration to inspire some of our youngsters to enter careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Space science and growing human resources are both priorities in our Decadal Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation, which is ultimately aimed at using science to drive socio-economic growth and a better life for South Africans.

As a country, we know the benefits that our investments in space science and technology have brought.  We see the establishment of the Matjiesfontein space tracking and communication facility as helping us to enhance our own capabilities and providing us with a range of potential advantages, one of which is the development of mutually beneficial international partnerships that allow us to fast-track our development trajectory.

Our investments in the South African National Space Agency have brought great success in skills development, knowledge generation and the establishment and operation of research infrastructure.  They have also helped to create a society that is more knowledgeable about science and technology – a great public good.

Matjiesfontein is well situated for support to NASA because of its geographic location.  Apart from its low radio frequency interference and its good weather conditions, it is in the Southern Hemisphere, where NASA needs to situate additional satellite tracking infrastructure.  In turn, Matjiesfontein will reap spin-off benefits in the form of local economic growth.

The ground station and space tracking and communication antenna to be built here in Matjiesfontein will offer further opportunities for South African participation in international space programmes.  The SANSA-NASA partnership will give both parties the opportunity to make an even bigger impact on the local and international market.

As the Department of Science and Innovation, we welcome this partnership between SANSA and NASA, and as government, we pledge to provide as much as support as possible to this visionary venture.

Thank you for your attention.

 

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER

Sign up to receive updates and industry insights.

Facebook Linkedin Instagram
Americas

3200 Windy Hill Road SE, Suite 750 

Atlanta, GA 30339

Phone: +1 404 846 0700

Email: info@valorhospitality.com

UK + EUROPE

St. James House 

3rd Floor, South Wing

27 – 43 Eastern Road

Romford, Essex RM1 3NH

Phone: +44 (0)1708 730 522

Email: info@valorhospitalityeurope.com

Africa

Suite 004 The Yacht Club

2 Dockrail Road

V&A Waterfront

Cape Town 8002, South Africa

Phone: +27 21 4614587

Email: infoafrica@valorhospitality.com

Siège Casablanca

Angle avenue de la Côte d’Emeraude & rue de l’Ile de Timor

Anfa – Casablanca | Maroc

Phone : +212 (0) 5 22 799 790

Middle East + CIS

Valor Hospitality Middle East DMCC

Platinum Tower, Level 6

DMCC Jumeirah Lake Towers

P.O. Box 181921 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971529230820

Email: middleeast@valorhospitality.com

8, Mehrjon Street

Mirabab District

Tashkent Uzbekistan

Office : Tel: +998 934752246

Careers
News + Press
Contact
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
PRIVACY POLICY
Gender Pay Gap Report - DTP Hospitality
Gender Pay Report - HICP Ltd
Modern Slavery Statement - DTP Hospitality
Modern Slavery Statement - HICP LTD
  • Valor Culture
    • We Are Hotelitarians
    • Meet Our People
    • Our Story + Values
    • Join Our Team
    • Back
  • Services
    • Hotel Management
    • Asset Management
    • New Development + Rebranding
    • Investments + Acquisitions
    • Dine, Design + Curate
    • Specialties
    • Back
  • Case Studies
    • Operations Value Add
    • Asset Management
    • New Development + Expansion
    • Rebranding + Renovations
    • Conversions
    • Environmental, Social, Governance
    • Back
  • Global Portfolio
    • Properties Americas
    • Properties UK + Europe
    • Properties Middle East + CIS
    • Properties South Africa
    • Properties North + West Africa
    • Back
  • ESG + Sustainability
    • Mission + Objectives
    • ESG Initiatives
    • Achievements
    • Back
  • News + Press
    • Latest News
    • Awards
    • Back
  • Contact

Matjiesfontein Ground Station Sod-turning Ceremony