UKZN engineer among African Space Industry’s Top 10 Under 30
UKZN engineer and PhD candidate, Kai Broughton, has been recognised by the African Space Industry.
UKZN’s Kai Broughton, a PhD candidate and propulsion engineer in the Aerospace Systems Research Group (ASReG), has been named among the African Space Industry’s Top 10 Under 30 by the Space in Africa news agency.
Commenting on the announcement, Broughton said: “It’s an honour to be chosen as one of this year’s class of young people contributing to the industry, and it’s an important opportunity to draw attention to the work and mission of ASReG.? The 27-year-old engineer responded to Space in Africa’s call for applications and was selected for the honour alongside two others from South Africa, two from Angola, one from Ghana, two from Morocco, one from Ethiopia, and one from Nigeria.
Africa’s space ecosystem is experiencing growth in expertise, investment from governments and the private sector, and contributions of innovators, engineers, researchers, and writers.
Space in Africa began profiling ten of these individuals in 2019, employing a thorough selection process to arrive at the awardees. The recognition of the awardees is intended to form part of proceedings at the 2020 NewSpace Africa Conference in Ethiopia in November.
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As a propulsion engineer, Broughton is working on liquid rocket propulsion systems and static test facilities, laying the foundation for an indigenous satellite launch capability.
He is also working on ignition systems for a number of engines under development by ASReG, and working part-time as the Lead Engineer for the Phoenix-1B hybrid sounding rocket project, developing and upgrading two sounding rockets to be launched by the end of 2020.
These launches will prove technology and operations required for a commercial workhorse sounding rocket, which will be used to commission a new sounding rocket launch facility in South Africa.
Having always been interested in aerospace, Broughton’s exposure to the field was accentuated during his Masters’ studies, and as he watched worldwide trends in space exploration and technology, he became passionate about seeing South Africa build its own capacity for launching aerospace vehicles and technology.
He said it is possible if the country can develop critical infrastructure and expertise, and capitalise on the knowledge of experienced engineers and researchers who were part of South Africa’s early launch vehicle programmes.
Broughton’s work helps meet the aims of ASReG, which include the development of aerospace technologies related to rockets and space vehicles, and the development of human skills in aerospace engineering.
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