Trailblazer in Space Science leaves a remarkable legacy
SANSA’s Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell
(30 December 1970 - 19 August 2023)
Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell, Managing Director of the South African National Space Agency’s Space Science Programme in Hermanus and a Sandbaai resident, passed away on Saturday 19 August 2023 after a short illness.
Lee-Anne played a crucial role in the establishment of the Space Agency, as a board member and an executive. Many of the students she supervised are now full-time researchers at SANSA (South African National Space Agency) and around the world. She served as SANSA’s Space Science Managing Director for 12 years and during this time made a tremendous contribution to the space science, skills development, and science engagement fields.
The Space Weather Project was her crowning achievement which produced a Space Weather Capability for the country in three years, on time, and budget. The launch of the 24/7 Space Weather Centre in November of last year was a highlight for her and the SANSA team. Lee-Anne was a space weather advocate and custodian of the unique SANSA Hermanus facility which she loved and is now a National Key Point, thanks to her continued efforts to protect the site.
Lee-Anne served on numerous international committees and working groups, including as the Space Weather co-chair for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), ensuring Africa’s interests are maintained in the field of space science and related technology. She also received a long list of awards for her contribution to the Space Science field. Lee-Anne was appointed to the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO) in 2004 as a researcher and was then appointed as the Acting Managing Director in 2010, after which she moved to Hermanus part-time. She and her husband, John McKinnell relocated permanently to Sandbaai in 2012 when the HMO was incorporated into the newly established SANSA.
SANSA - on our doorstep
SANSA was established in 2010 through the South African National Space Agency Act, 36 of 2008. SANSA aims to promote cooperation in space-related activities, foster research in space science, advance scientific engineering through human capital and support the development of an environment conducive to industrial development in space technologies. SANSA reached an important milestone for its Space Weather Project after the Cabinet approved the designation of South Africa as a Regional Space Weather Centre for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during its meeting on 4 August 2021. The research and work carried out at SANSA focuses on space science, engineering and technology that can promote development, build human capital, and provide important national services. Much of this work involves monitoring the Earth and our surrounding environment and using the collected data to ensure that navigation, communication technology and weather forecasting services function as intended. SANSA invites you to join them for a fun and highly educational visit. Book here for a tour on Wednesdays from 11:00 - 12:00. Entry is free.
(Provided by Daleen Fouche, SANSA Communications Practitioner)
