From South Africa to the Moon: Control Systems crafted by Stellenbosch’s CubeSpace

CubeSpace, a company that originated from Stellenbosch, has recently secured R47 million in venture capital funding to broaden its operations globally. The South Africa University Technology Fund is among its investors. Mike-Alec Kearney, the founder and CEO of CubeSpace, told Biznews in an interview that their products are endorsed by NASA and have been used to build the control system for a lunar rover developed by the UAE Space Agency. Despite the crash of the Japanese lander carrying the moon buggy, South African manufactured parts have made it to the moon. Kearney highlighted that the space industry has transformed over the past 20 years, enabling the private and commercial sectors to thrive. Under the guidance of Professor Herman Steyn from Stellenbosch University, CubeSpace began developing control systems for small satellites, known as CubeSats. The company has since grown into a market leader in control experience and satellites, supplying a range of products to NASA, the European Space Agency, and the UAE’s space agency. CubeSpace is now looking towards further expansion.