The overpass will be observed from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Satellite Application Centre’s (CSIR-SAC) mission control room at Hartbeeshoek, about 70 km west of Pretoria, Gauteng.

The 81 kg South African micro-satellite was launched into space on 17 September 2009, aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket in Baikonour, Kazakhstan.

The pass, which will last about 12 minutes, will occur at 08:19.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, and a senior technical team of the CSIR-SAC will brief the media immediately afterwards.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has arranged a bus for members of the media who wish to attend the event. 

The bus will leave from the DST, Building 53, Meiring Naudé Road, Scientia Campus (CSIR), Brummeria, Pretoria, at 06:00 sharp on Monday, 22 February 2010.

T he media are requested to reply no later than 12:00 on Wednesday, 17 February 2010 to:

Ms Zama Mthethwa

Tel.: 012 843 6781 or 082 808 3956

E-mail: zama.mthethwa@dst.gov.za

Or

Mr Lunga Ngqengelele

Tel.: 012 843 6802 or 082 566 0446

Email: lunga.ngqengelele@dst.gov.za

Issued by the Department of Science and Technology