Africa2Moon: Rhodes University leads continent’s first lunar mission

African scientists are poised to make history with Africa2Moon, the continent's inaugural space exploration mission, which will place radio antennas on the lunar surface. This groundbreaking endeavor, led by Rhodes University, will allow researchers to conduct radio astronomy in an unprecedented environment, offering a glimpse of the Universe previously inaccessible.

Rhodes University's Distinguished Professor Oleg Smirnov is the principal investigator for the radio astronomy aspect of the mission. Selected for China's Chang'e-8 mission to the lunar south pole in 2029, Africa2Moon aims to deploy the first radio interferometer to operate on the Moon's surface. The mission's focus on radio astronomy will enable scientists to study the lowest-frequency radio waves – below 20 MHz – which are typically blocked by Earth's atmosphere.

By operating on the Moon's far side, Africa2Moon will provide a quiet environment for this critical research, opening up a new frontier in astronomy. The mission's innovative "BALLS" antenna element, a rolling sphere designed to function as part of a single telescope, will allow researchers to listen to signals from Earth, the Sun, the Galaxy, and even search for technosignatures.

Rhodes University's team, renowned for their expertise in MeerKAT and the Square Kilometre Array, will lead the radio astronomy work for the mission. The Africa2Moon mission's impact extends beyond scientific discovery, serving as a platform for capacity-building and youth empowerment across the continent. With the goal of deploying 55 antennas across the lunar far side – one for each African nation – Africa2Moon represents a significant leap forward in African scientific capabilities and a testament to the continent's growing presence in space exploration.