Reaching the universe to promote poverty eradication

South Africa is determined to become the black continent's technology hub to support the struggling economy due to the global financial crisis.

Naledi Pandor, South Africa's Minister of Science and Technology, said that as the country pursued a field of global importance such as space technology, many industries would have conditions to grow.

" Before building satellites, people have to build launchers. It's a form of investment in infrastructure. There will be many areas in the economy that benefit from the space program ," she said. .

South Africa - Africa's largest economy - is home to the largest southern hemisphere telescope. Last year parliament passed the establishment of an agency for space science.

South Africa's satellite in space.(Photo: Digitaljournal.com)

But now South Africa is facing numerous challenges in an effort to secure accommodation for tens of millions of poor people of color. These people had to live in slums or build temporary tents on government lands. Unemployment also led to many protests this year.

Despite this situation, South Africa is determined to establish a space agency before 2011. In addition, it will also compete fiercely with Australia to become a radio telescope called Square Kilometer Array - made up of 4,000 antennas worth 1.5 billion euros. Scientists hope this radio telescope will help them find the origin of the universe.

" Labor productivity is not the only factor that helps the economy grow. Strengthening science and technology capacity is much more important, because it helps the economy grow faster ," Pandor said.

South Africa launched the first artificial satellite produced by the country in 1999. The second satellite was sold internationally. Under the plan, South Africa will launch a third satellite on September 15.