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.

It was hoped that the competition would also create excitement about South Africa’s space sector among learners and stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.

The entries would be judged by a panel composed of scientists, engineers, designers and education specialists. The winner would win R3 000 in cash, a Sansa merchandise hamper, a signed certificate and be officially credited as the original designer of the mascot. The learner who came second would get R2 000 in cash, plus the hamper and a signed certificate, while the third-placed competitor would receive R1 500 in cash, the hamper and a signed certificate.

The winning entrants’ schools would share R100 000 in cash and/or vouchers, to buy books and equipment. The school of the winner would get R60 000, that of the runner-up would receive R25 000, while the school of the third-placed competitor would be awarded R15 000.