MURA Space and the Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) have entered an exclusive agreement to commercialise ASRI’s South African sounding rocket launch facility at Overberg Test Range at Arniston in the Western Cape.
This partnership will enable approved suborbital test launches, using both existing and mobile launch infrastructure, within well-established safety and operational standards and appropriate oversight.
According to UKZN, this collaboration will strengthen South Africa’s position as a centre for global aerospace research and investment. The joint efforts undertaken will not only advance local research efforts, support skills development, promote STEM among the youth but also foster international knowledge and technology transfer to South Africa’s aerospace sector.
Mura Space has developed a pipeline of cutting-edge suborbital sounding rocket launches ready for 2026, including those targeting the internationally recognised Kármán line (100km altitude) at the edge of space. Launches will represent historical firsts on African soil.
“Our collaboration with Mura Space represents a significant milestone in our mission to deliver indigenously developed, sovereign access to space for South Africa and the continent. By combining our advanced engineering expertise, in-house manufacturing capabilities, and 16 years of innovation with Mura’s commercial vision for launch, we are opening new frontiers for local research, skills development, and global technology exchange. We are excited about a launch ecosystem that will empower the next generation and position Africa as a key player in the global aerospace sector,” said Professor Michael Brooks, ASRI director.
“We are very excited to collaborate with UKZN ASRI on this initiative. We hope some of these launches will offer new opportunities for select South African micro-gravity research payloads as well as contribute positively to local educational and human capital development programmes in ways previously not possible. The world over, it is evidenced that growth and development in the scale and scope of suborbital activity is the foundational groundwork for orbital launch…Walking and we are excited about working with key space stakeholders to help grow the momentum towards a historical first commercial orbital attempt from African soil,” said Frederik de Ridder, CEO Mura Space.
Activities will take place under a newly established “AfriRoC™” or “African Rocketry Challenge™” initiative and will be subject to all relevant regulatory and safety approvals or support being successfully obtained.
Mura Space and ASRI said they are independently committed to building a vibrant, credible, entrepreneurial and safe launch ecosystem that supports South Africa’s ambition to develop its own orbital launch capacity and capabilities.
