The South African National Space Agency (Sansa) has launched a competition for the country’s high school learners, for the design of an official mascot for the national space programme. Up to now, there has never been an official symbol or mascot to represent South Africa’s space activities.
“A mascot gives people something to hold on to,” highlighted Sansa CEO Humbulani Mudau. “At home, it puts a face to our space programme and helps ordinary South Africans, especially young people, connect with an industry that can feel distant and highly technical. Abroad, it becomes a symbol that our country can rally behind – helping position us as a serious, creative and capable player in international space affairs. We want a mascot that says both.”
The competition was open to learners at registered South African public, independent and home schools. They had to be in Grades 8, 9, 10 or 11. They had to submit their design, along with a brief written explanation, by means of the official online entry portal, by midnight on Monday, September 14, this year.
No design experience or training was required. Sansa was seeking original designs. They had to be clearly connected with space, and be distinctly South African in aspect, whether through the use of landscape, wildlife, language, culture or history. The winning design would be professionally developed to become the agency’s official mascot, which would be used at schools, youth outreach events, and public engagements.
