SA firm opens Africa's largest space hardware factory

Somerset West spacecraft component manufacturer NewSpace Systems has opened a 5 200 square meter manufacturing facility and claims it is the largest commercial space hardware manufacturing plant in Africa.

The purpose-built facility includes a 1 260 square meter cleanroom and a 120 square meter engineering lab, both designed from the ground up for space-building. Capabilities include thermal and vibration test areas to simulate space conditions, Helmholtz coil calibration areas for magnetically sensitive hardware and dark rooms for optical testing, followed by thermal vacuum test capability.

NewSpace Systems, founded in 2013, specializes in guidance, navigation and control hardware for satellites – such as sun sensors, magnetometers, GPS receivers and antennas, reaction wheels and magnetorhe rods. It has recently expanded into RF communications.

The company says its products are now used on more than 2,500 spacecraft, and are exported to more than 38 countries. Along with its South African headquarters, it also has offices in the US, UK and New Zealand.

“Every corner of this cleanroom reflects our commitment to quality, reliability and mission success,” the CEO said. tanya lermWho was promoted from chief operating officer in mid-2024 when founder James Barrington-Brown moved into the role of global president.

“From the controlled air environment to the precision our customers demand, every aspect of this facility was engineered to provide hardware that performs flawlessly in space.”

increasing demand

The expansion is designed to support growing demand from satellite constellation builders, some of whom operate fleets of 500 or more spacecraft. All units produced at the facility meet IPC and ECSS (European Cooperation for Space Standardization) standards.

The inauguration comes as the African space sector is gaining momentum, with the African Space Agency launching in April 2025 and a growing number of countries establishing national space programs on the continent. — (c) 2026 NewsCentral Media