NewSpace Systems opens Africa's largest space manufacturing facility

NewSpace Systems has officially opened a new 5,200 m² manufacturing facility in Somerset West, South Africa, now the largest commercial space component and subsystem manufacturing site on the African continent

The expansion significantly increases the region’s capacity to support the global satellite supply chain.

The purpose built facility is designed to meet the high volume production requirements of modern satellite constellations. NSS, Africa’s largest exporter of space utilised hardware, supports the majority of commercial spacecraft manufacturers globally.

The development marks an important step in the company's transition from a specialised component provider to a high cadence industrial manufacturer. Since construction began in October 2024, NSS has focused on scaling its Guidance, Navigation, and Control product lines. This growth has been driven by the rapid expansion of Low Earth Orbit constellations, which require flight proven hardware that can be produced at scale without compromising quality. NSS products, including sun sensors and reaction wheels, are currently used on spacecraft weighing up to six tons.

The facility features advanced infrastructure designed to meet stringent IPC and ECSS aerospace standards. It includes a 1,260 m² ISO 14644 1 certified cleanroom, a 120 m² engineering laboratory for research and development, and specialised areas such as Helmholtz coil calibration zones for magnetically sensitive hardware, dark rooms for optical testing, and thermal and vibration testing environments. Production is supported by 6S LEAN certified assembly lines to ensure consistent and precise manufacturing.

“Big, beautiful, and built for space manufacturing,” said Tanya Lerm, CEO of NewSpace Systems.

“Every corner of this cleanroom reflects our commitment to quality, reliability, and mission success. From the controlled air environment to the precision our customers demand, every aspect of this facility was engineered to deliver hardware that performs flawlessly in space.”

By consolidating design, qualification, and manufacturing in one location, NSS maintains vertical integration, enabling competitive pricing while adhering to international standards.