Africa2Moon: Africa's first lunar mission | Adriana Marais | TEDxYuehai St Salon

Key Concepts

• Africa2Moon Project: A project aiming to send a radio telescope, consisting of "balls" (Bounced African Lunar Low-frequency Spheres), to the far side of the Moon.
• Bounced African Lunar Low-frequency Spheres (BALLS): Low-mass, low-cost spherical casings containing loop antennas designed to roll into position on the lunar surface to form a radio telescope.
• Radio Astronomy on the Far Side of the Moon: Utilizing the radio frequency interference-free zone on the far side of the Moon to conduct radio astronomy, overcoming limitations caused by terrestrial and solar interference.
• International Space University (ISU): An institution offering space-related education, where Carla Sharp Mitchell pursued her Executive MBA.
• Square Kilometer Array (SKA): A large multi-radio telescope project, for which Carla worked as a business development manager.
• MirKAT: A precursor array to the SKA, built in South Africa.
• International Astronautical Congress (IAC): A major international space event.
• Chang'e 8: A Chinese lunar mission scheduled for 2028, targeted for deploying the Africa2Moon payload.
• Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL): A Chinese entity partnering with the Africa2Moon project.
• International Lunar Research Base (ILRB): A collaborative project involving multiple nations, including China, to establish a research base on the Moon.

Carla Sharp Mitchell's Journey

• Early Inspiration: Carla's childhood fascination with space, fueled by visits to the bookstore and dreams of exploring the cosmos.
• Career Shift: Transition from finance to space, triggered by South Africa's announcement of a space program.
• Foundation for Space Development Africa: Co-founding the organization in 2009.
• South African National Space Agency (SANSA): Established in 2010 following necessary legislation.
• Executive MBA at ISU: Pursuing credentials at the International Space University, facing significant financial challenges.
• Relocation to the Isle of Man: Moving to the Isle of Man to earn foreign currency to fund her MBA, facing initial job loss and hardship.
• Classmate Support: Receiving financial support from her ISU classmates to complete her MBA in the United States.
• International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in South Africa: Participating in the organizing committee while still in the Isle of Man.
• Return to South Africa: Securing a business development manager position at the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) after returning to South Africa.
• PhD Thesis: Focusing on the potential of large-scale space infrastructure to positively impact developing economies.

The Africa2Moon Project

• Origin of the Idea: Carla's innovative concept of using small, low-cost "balls" containing antennas to create a radio telescope on the far side of the Moon.
• BALLS Acronym: Bounced African Lunar Low-frequency Spheres, emphasizing low frequency, low mass, and low cost.
• Collaboration with Speaker: Meeting the speaker in 2015 and forming a partnership to advance the Africa2Moon project.
• Chang'e 7 and 8 Missions: Applying to the Chinese Chang'e missions to send the Africa2Moon payload to the Moon, initially unsuccessful with Chang'e 7 but reapplying for Chang'e 8.
• Project Development: Brainstorming, calculations, testing in liquid nitrogen (-200°C to simulate lunar night temperatures), and prototyping.
• Partnerships: Collaborating with the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) and the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) as part of the International Lunar Research Base (ILRB) project.
• Mission Objectives:
  • Demonstrating novel technology.
  • Conducting new radio astronomy science not possible from Earth.
  • Inspiring future generations in Africa and around the world.
• Team and Partners: A diverse team of volunteers from around the world and multiple organizational partners.
• Inspiration and Belonging: Aiming to inspire a sense of wonder, participation, and belonging in space exploration for children in Africa and globally.

Technical Details

• Radio Frequency Interference (RFI): Interference from terrestrial and solar sources that hinders radio astronomy observations.
• Far Side of the Moon as a Radio-Quiet Zone: The far side of the Moon blocks RFI from Earth, the Sun, and natural auroral emissions, making it ideal for radio astronomy.
• Loop Antennas: Small antennas encased in the "balls" to detect faint radio signals.
• Low-Frequency Radio Astronomy: Focusing on low-frequency radio wavelengths.
• Material Testing: Testing materials in liquid nitrogen to ensure robustness in extreme lunar temperatures.

Key Arguments and Perspectives

• Space Exploration for Societal Advancement: Emphasizing the positive impact of space exploration on economies, technology development, and the human capacity to dream and imagine.
• Importance of Collaboration: Highlighting the power of collaboration in achieving ambitious goals like the Africa2Moon project.
• Inspiration and Education: Stressing the importance of inspiring future generations through space exploration and fostering a sense of belonging in the cosmos.
• Africa's Role in Space Exploration: Advocating for increased participation of African nations in space exploration.

Notable Quotes

• "Is this real estate or is this real space?" - Carla Sharp Mitchell, questioning the seriousness of South Africa's space program.
• "...the moonshot was in fact a compromise and a stepping stone to our grand Visions to explore space..." - Speaker, highlighting the moon mission as a stepping stone to broader space exploration goals.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The Africa2Moon project, spearheaded by Carla Sharp Mitchell, represents a significant step towards advancing Africa's participation in space exploration. Driven by a lifelong passion for space and a commitment to inspiring future generations, Carla overcame numerous obstacles to develop an innovative and cost-effective approach to radio astronomy on the far side of the Moon. The project not only aims to conduct groundbreaking scientific research but also to foster a sense of wonder, participation, and belonging in space exploration for children in Africa and around the world. Through strategic partnerships, a dedicated team, and a clear vision, Africa2Moon exemplifies the power of collaboration and the transformative potential of space exploration for societal advancement.