‘It’s ours’: Namibia builds radio telescope from scratch
Connecting Namibia to the stars
The University of Namibia’s (Unam's) main campus in Windhoek became a hub of innovation and curiosity in October as students, researchers, and international experts gathered for the installation of the transient array radio telescope (TART).
The week-long workshop, from 27 to 31 October, coordinated by Dr Eli Kasai and Dr Frans Lott, marked a milestone for Namibian radio astronomy, combining hands-on engineering, data science and astrophysics into a collaborative, continent-spanning initiative.
The TART project, led by New Zealand physicist Dr Tim Molteno, began as a small side project but has since grown into an open-source global effort. “All of the designs, all of the software, everything is available online for people to build themselves,” said Molteno. “The idea is to create a community of people who love it; anyone can contribute.”
Instead of focusing on a narrow section of the sky, it observes the entire sky continuously, detecting “transient” radio flashes – brief bursts of radio energy caused by cosmic rays, lightning or even satellites. Using small antennas arranged in a spiral array, the telescope provides a real-time picture of radio activity above the Earth, accessible through a web interface.
Built from the ground up
Beyond the technology, the project’s spirit lies in its collaboration.
The Namibian workshop formed part of a series rolled out across SKA partner countries, including Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and Zambia.
Supported by the South African government and the British foreign office, each workshop installs a telescope that remains on site, serving as both a physical and symbolic anchor for future research and cooperation among African nations.
At Unam, participants spent the week learning the fundamentals of radio astronomy and interferometry, exploring calibration techniques and engaging in discussions on research applications.
Under Molteno’s guidance, they assembled the telescope themselves, from constructing the wooden structure to wiring the electronics and configuring the array.
“We used marine plywood because metal interferes with radio waves,” Molteno explained. “The idea is that students build it themselves, so they feel ownership. You can’t experiment with a hundred-million-dollar telescope, but you can with something you’ve built by hand.”
For Kasai, one of Namibia’s TART coordinators, the experience was equally challenging and rewarding. “We had to build the metal legs from scratch,” he recalled, describing the overnight welding work done at his home after last-minute changes in equipment supply. “But we got it done, and it stands beautifully on the Unam rooftop.”
Kasai believes this hands-on approach will transform Namibia’s scientific landscape. “Radio astronomy was once far from us,” he said. “Now, with instruments like TART, our students are gaining real experience that will prepare them for future projects like the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the African Millimetre Telescope. These are the same skills that will make Namibia a strong player in global astronomy.”
Proudly Namibian
Among the students, enthusiasm was palpable.
Shain Mukungu, a computer science graduate, will soon begin a master’s degree focused on TART data analysis and algorithm design.
“We built the telescope ourselves and even painted it with the Namibian flag,” he said proudly. “It’s beautiful to be part of something that literally puts Namibia on the global map of radio astronomy.”
Geno Gurirab, an honours student in physics, echoed that excitement: “We’re learning how to use instruments to measure the unknown, even things like dark satellites. It’s not just theory anymore; it’s real science we can touch.”
As the final cables were connected and the telescope came online, the sense of achievement was electric. For a generation of young scientists, TART is more than a research tool; it’s a symbol of how Namibia can connect with the stars through collaboration, curiosity, and courage.
Or, as Dr Kasai summed it up: “It’s ours. It belongs to the country. And we should embrace it.”
The week-long workshop, from 27 to 31 October, coordinated by Dr Eli Kasai and Dr Frans Lott, marked a milestone for Namibian radio astronomy, combining hands-on engineering, data science and astrophysics into a collaborative, continent-spanning initiative.
The TART project, led by New Zealand physicist Dr Tim Molteno, began as a small side project but has since grown into an open-source global effort. “All of the designs, all of the software, everything is available online for people to build themselves,” said Molteno. “The idea is to create a community of people who love it; anyone can contribute.”
Instead of focusing on a narrow section of the sky, it observes the entire sky continuously, detecting “transient” radio flashes – brief bursts of radio energy caused by cosmic rays, lightning or even satellites. Using small antennas arranged in a spiral array, the telescope provides a real-time picture of radio activity above the Earth, accessible through a web interface.
Built from the ground up
Beyond the technology, the project’s spirit lies in its collaboration.
The Namibian workshop formed part of a series rolled out across SKA partner countries, including Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and Zambia.
Supported by the South African government and the British foreign office, each workshop installs a telescope that remains on site, serving as both a physical and symbolic anchor for future research and cooperation among African nations.
At Unam, participants spent the week learning the fundamentals of radio astronomy and interferometry, exploring calibration techniques and engaging in discussions on research applications.
Under Molteno’s guidance, they assembled the telescope themselves, from constructing the wooden structure to wiring the electronics and configuring the array.
“We used marine plywood because metal interferes with radio waves,” Molteno explained. “The idea is that students build it themselves, so they feel ownership. You can’t experiment with a hundred-million-dollar telescope, but you can with something you’ve built by hand.”
For Kasai, one of Namibia’s TART coordinators, the experience was equally challenging and rewarding. “We had to build the metal legs from scratch,” he recalled, describing the overnight welding work done at his home after last-minute changes in equipment supply. “But we got it done, and it stands beautifully on the Unam rooftop.”
Kasai believes this hands-on approach will transform Namibia’s scientific landscape. “Radio astronomy was once far from us,” he said. “Now, with instruments like TART, our students are gaining real experience that will prepare them for future projects like the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the African Millimetre Telescope. These are the same skills that will make Namibia a strong player in global astronomy.”
Proudly Namibian
Among the students, enthusiasm was palpable.
Shain Mukungu, a computer science graduate, will soon begin a master’s degree focused on TART data analysis and algorithm design.
“We built the telescope ourselves and even painted it with the Namibian flag,” he said proudly. “It’s beautiful to be part of something that literally puts Namibia on the global map of radio astronomy.”
Geno Gurirab, an honours student in physics, echoed that excitement: “We’re learning how to use instruments to measure the unknown, even things like dark satellites. It’s not just theory anymore; it’s real science we can touch.”
As the final cables were connected and the telescope came online, the sense of achievement was electric. For a generation of young scientists, TART is more than a research tool; it’s a symbol of how Namibia can connect with the stars through collaboration, curiosity, and courage.
Or, as Dr Kasai summed it up: “It’s ours. It belongs to the country. And we should embrace it.”
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