LAUNCHING SOUTH AFRICA INTO THE FUTURE OF SPACE
Mura's activities are aimed at supporting a globally competitive, orbital and sub-orbital space launch value chain in southern Africa.
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ABOUT MURA
The name ‘MURA’ holds a rich cultural significance rooted in African star lore. In the traditions of the /Xam Bushmen, the two bright stars of the Southern Cross, Alpha and Beta Centauri, were seen as "The Eyes" of a celestial beast, while the Khoikhoi named them "MURA." This name reflects MURA’s mission of visionary leadership, navigation, and innovation as they guide South Africa into the new age of space exploration.
MURA is dedicated to positioning South Africa as a global leader in the rapidly growing space economy. Through fostering innovation, creating strategic partnerships, and building a robust satellite launch supply chain, MURA is driving economic growth. This commitment also extends to empowering a new generation of entrepreneurs, founders, manufacturing businesses, scientists, and engineers in southern Africa.
Our objectives
LEVERAGE EXPERTISE
Harness space-sector, manufacturing, and private capital market expertise to develop South Africa’s space-sector capabilities.
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SUPPORT COMMERCIAL LAUNCHES
Build a satellite launch supply chain to service global commercial (non-military) customers.
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FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS
Collaborate with public and private sectors to align with science, technology, and innovation policies.
LEVERAGE EXPERTISE
Harness space-sector, manufacturing, and private capital market expertise to develop South Africa’s space-sector capabilities.
Support Commercial Launches
Build a satellite launch supply chain to service global commercial (non-military) customers.
Foster Partnerships
Collaborate with public and private sectors to align with science, technology, and innovation policies.
WHO WE SERVE
MURA supports and serves the following key sectors in the global space economy:
COMMERCIAL SPACE OPERATORS
MURA partners with agile space operators to facilitate satellite launches, support sub-orbital and orbital missions, and enable small and medium payload operations.
PUBLIC SECTOR AND GOVERNMENTS
Build long-term, commercial relationships with the public and private sectors that align with strategic public policy objectives in space-related science, technology and innovation.
FOUNDERS & ENTREPRENEURES
Mura partners technology and industrial entrepreneurs and founders of companies that are mission critical to South Africa's space industrial base, supporting innovation and the next generation of scientists, engineers and space technicians.
chairman
Roger Jardine
Over 30 years of leadership experience in public and private sectors, including in listed and unlisted environments, including media, infrastructure development and finance industries. Roger is the former Chairperson of the CSIR and FirstRand Limited.
Chief Executive Officer
Frederik de Ridder
Founder with over 12 years of experience in finance, tech and manufacturing. Former Chairman of NewSpace Systems and UCT Civil Engineering Advisory Board Member.
Chief Commercial Officer
JAMES BARRINGTON-BROWN
An entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in ommercial
satellite and space markets. Founder & current Chairman of NewSpace Systems, a global leader in satellite systems manufacturing.
Head: Legal Strategy
Yvette Isaacs
A legal expert with over 25 years
of experience, specialising in environmental compliance
and advocacy at the High Court of South Africa.
THE MURA
TEAM
chairman
Roger Jardine
Over 30 years of leadership experience in public and private sectors, including in listed and unlisted environments, including media, infrastructure, development and finance industries.
Chief Executive Officer
Frederik de Ridder
Founder with over 12 years of experience in finance, tech and manufacturing. Former Chairman of NewSpace Systems and UCT Civil Engineering Advisory Board Member.
Chief Commercial Officer
JAMES BARRINGTON-BROWN
An entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in commercial satellite and space markets. Founder of NewSpace Systems, a global leader in satellite systems manufacturing.
Head: Legal Strategy
Yvette Isaacs
A legal expert with over 25 years of experience, specialising in environmental compliance and advocacy at the High Court of South Africa.
What We Stand For
01
Space Sovereignty
Leverage space-sector, manufacturing and private capital markets expertise and experience to grow/develop/invest in Africa’s sovereign space-sector capacity and capabilities
02
Building the future
Support innovative satellite launch supply chain and manufacturing activities, creating opportunity and inspiring current and future generations of South African operators, scientists and engineers
Economic Growth
Stimulate South Africa's wider economy by boosting space sector related industrial, entrepreneurial and tourism activity, and boosting domestic innovation ecosystems and investment
03
The future of space launch
01
High-Cadence Launch Operations
Meeting the growing demand for commercial launches and space tourism.
02
Smaller Payloads
Supporting operators with agile, smaller-class and/or reusable launch vehicles servicing the New Space market.
03
Horizontal and Vertical Capabilities
Infrastructure, facilities and platforms to accommodate a versatile range of launch systems for orbital and suborbital flight.
The Space Market
The global space economy will be $11 trillion by 2040
- Morgan Stanley
Space launch alone is projected to be a $30 billion market by 2029
– Deloitte/Fortune Business Insights
There’s a Traffic Jam Forming at U.S. Rocket Launchpads
-Wall Street Journal (5 January 2025)
The industry could reach $3 trillion by 2035
-Bank of America
An estimated 6,000 small satellites are currently waiting for launch opportunities; it is reasonable to project that the rate of launches will continue increasing over the next decade.
– Alaska Aerospace
South Africa's
history in space
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1841
UCT Magnetic Observatory
1961
NASA Hartebeeshoek Ground Station (partner: NASA)
1967/8
SA signs Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space ('67) & Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space ('68)
1972/6
Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (72) & Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space ('76)
1980’s
Overberg Test Range, Houwteq
1993/5
South African Council for Space Affairs: Space Affairs Act & Space Affairs Amendment Act
1999
South Africa's First Satellite (partner NASA): SunSat
2008
SANSA Act
National Space Policy (Department of Trade, Industry & Competition)
2010
South Africa's Second satellite (partner: Roscosmos): SumbandilaSat
2013
SANSA Earth Observation Strategy; Denel Spaceteq
2015
African Union Space Strategy
2017
Square Kilometre Array Africa
2018
National Space Strategy (Department of Science & Innovation)
2019
SKAO Rome
2020
Matjiesfontein Ground Station (partner: NASA)
2022
BRICS Joint Committee on Space Cooperation
2023
Dragonfly Aerospace AgriSAT-1 /ZA
008 first ever-commercial satellite licensed in South Africa (launch: SpaceX)
2024
China International Lunar Research Station 2035
2028
South Africa is "a thriving space nation and be an important contributor to the global space science and technology arena"
future
Dragonfly Aerospace AgriSAT-1 /ZA
008 first ever-commercial satellite licensed in South Africa (launch: SpaceX)
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.
.
The future of space launch
01
High-Cadence Launch Operations
Meeting the growing demand for commercial launches and space tourism.
02
Smaller Payloads
Supporting operators with agile, smaller-class and/or reusable launch vehicles servicing the New Space market.
03
Horizontal and Vertical Capabilities
Infrastructure, facilities and platforms to accommodate a versatile range of launch systems for orbital and suborbital flight.
The Space Market
The global space economy will be $1.1 trillion by 2040
- Morgan Stanley
Space launch alone is projected to be a $30 billion market by 2029
– Deloitte/Fortune Business Insights
There’s a Traffic Jam Forming at U.S. Rocket Launchpads
-Wall Street Journal (5 January 2025)
The industry could reach $3 trillion by 2035
-Bank of America
An estimated 6,000 small satellites are currently waiting for launch opportunities; it is reasonable to project that the rate of launches will continue increasing over the next decade.
– Alaska Aerospace
South Africa's
history in space
1841
UCT Magnetic Observatory
1961
NASA Hartebeeshoek Ground Station (partner: NASA)
1967/8
SA signs Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space ('67) & Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space ('68)
1972/6
Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (72) & Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space ('76)
1980’s
Overberg Test Range, Houwteq
1993/5
South African Council for Space Affairs: Space Affairs Act & Space Affairs Amendment Act
1999
South Africa's First Satellite (partner NASA): SunSat
2000
Southern African Large Telescope (SALT)
Construction started year 2000
First light 2005
2008
SANSA Act
National Space Policy (Department of Trade, Industry & Competition)
2010
South Africa's Second satellite (partner: Roscosmos): SumbandilaSat
2013
SANSA Earth Observation Strategy; Denel Spaceteq
2015
African Union Space Strategy
2017
Square Kilometre Array Africa
2018
National Space Strategy (Department of Science & Innovation)
2019
SKAO Rome
2020
Matjiesfontein Ground Station (partner: NASA)
2022
BRICS Joint Committee on Space Cooperation
2023
Dragonfly Aerospace AgriSAT-1 /ZA
008 first ever-commercial satellite licensed in South Africa (launch: SpaceX)
2024
China International Lunar Research Station 2035
future
South Africa is "a thriving space nation and be an important contributor to the global space science and technology arena"
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Be part of MURA's mission to position South Africa as a leading contributor to the global space economy. Whether you're interested in partnering, investing, or collaborating, we'd love to hear from you
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