SOUTH AFRICA - NASA VISIT EVALUATES SOUTH AFRICA'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 000942 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR OES/PCI/SHAW, OES/STC/ROTTIER, OES/SAT STATE ALSO FOR AF/S, AF/EPS EUCOM FOR J5 OSD FOR AFRICA MADRID FOR NASA/MWATKINS NASA WASHDC FOR KRIEGER, CARROLL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KSCA SENV ECON PREL TSPL SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA - NASA VISIT EVALUATES SOUTH AFRICA'S POTENTIAL TO HOST DEEP SPACE NETWORK ARRAY SITE Ref: A) Johannesburg 116; B) State 15423 Sensitive but unclassified, protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary. A six-member delegation from National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory had a productive visit to South Africa January 28 through February 8. The group, accompanied by Embassy Defense Attache, made site visits and held technical discussions on a South African-based tracking station under consideration for NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) Array. SAG representatives, and in particular, the highly-motivated Department of Science & Technology, are cooperating to the fullest extent possible with NASA in the selection effort. End summary. Background and Introduction ¶2. (SBU) NASA's DSN must be capable of mapping the universe, moon, and planetary bodies for further international human space exploration. To improve its current capability, NASA may establish a new space vehicle tracking station to project into deep space and receive signals from various stars and galaxies. It is evaluating potential sites for the tracking station in Australia, Spain and South Africa, and could reach a decision in March 2005. ¶3. (U) South Africa is keenly interested in hosting a deep space vehicle tracking station for the DSN Array. Astronomy is a top priority in the national R&D strategy. The Southern Africa Large Telescope (SALT) project, involving collaboration with a number of U.S. and foreign academic institutions, will soon be completed. South Africa also is competing actively to host the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope, which will be the largest space receiving surface in existence. ¶4. (SBU) In support of its effort to be selected, South Africa's Department of Science and Technology (DST) submitted a detailed technical analysis to NASA. The South African cabinet approved the proposal to invite NASA to consider South Africa as a site for a tracking station. On January 28 through February 8, DST hosted a team from NASA, led by Dr. Barry Geldzahler, Program Executive for Space Operations Deep Space Network, and accompanied by Embassy Defense Attache Col. Michael Muolo, who has extensive professional experience and expertise in space policy issues. Site Visits and Meetings Productive ¶5. (SBU) The NASA delegation visited four sites in the Northern Cape province to evaluate climatic conditions, geology, radio interference, and general infrastructure capacity. Provincial and municipal government representatives committed to cost-sharing for power, water and sewage costs associated with the project, which they expect to provide a major economic boost to the region. The group also met with representatives of SA Telkom and parastatal energy company Eskom, to discuss communications and power requirements, and to learn about the capacity of South African companies to fabricate components, such as antennas, for the station. ¶6. (SBU) DST representatives organized and participated in the site visits and meetings. DST continues to respond to follow up questions from NASA regarding local manufacturing capabilities and other requirements for hosting a tracking station. In addition, DST has agreed to consider cost- sharing for infrastructure costs. Other Positive Outcomes ¶7. (U) On February 7, Dr. Geldzahler and Marcus Watkins, NASA Representative to Spain, participated in an outreach program with selected students and teachers from nine high schools in the Johannesburg area, organized by the Consulate General's Public Affairs Section (Ref A). The NASA officials fielded questions on "dark energy," NASA budgets, job opportunities in aerospace and broader foreign policy issues, and helped to deepen students' interest in space and science. DST Follow-Up with Ambassador ¶8. (SBU) Soon after the visit, Director-General for Science & Technology Dr. Rob Adam requested a meeting with Ambassador Frazer to underscore the strong SAG interest in hosting a NASA DSN Array space vehicle tracking station. During the February 11 meeting, the Ambassador told Dr. Adam that NASA would base its decision on technical merit, but encouraged the government of South Africa to convey its strong support for the project through a letter from President Mbeki to President Bush, or from the Minister of Science & Technology to an appropriate counterpart. ¶9. (SBU) Comment: If South Africa were selected, the DSN Array project would generate significant economic benefits as well as a major infusion of technology from the U.S. It would also provide an excellent boost for expanded S&T cooperation between the U.S. and South Africa, and for the bilateral relationship. However, it should be noted that NASA plans to develop a next generation DSN Array network have not yet advanced very far within the agency, and it will likely take time before decisions are reached on the array and any new NASA DSN site. ¶10. (U) NASA Headquarters cleared this message. FRAZER