The international space station will be visible from Pretoria on Friday at 7.09pm, the Department of Science and Technology said.
The department said it would appear from the south-west and ”fly” directly overhead and disappear from view towards the north-east.
”The sighting lasts about four minutes with the station moving at 500km per minute,” it said in a statement.
The timing of the station’s appearance was ideal as it would still be reflected by the sun’s light.
Its appearance coincided with the launch of South Africa’s national space policy by Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa in Pretoria.
At about 1pm on Friday, Mpahlwa was expected to outline how the policy would enhance the country’s participation in the global arena and provide guidance to the domestic public and private sectors involved in the industry.
The policy was approved by Cabinet in December last year and would see South Africa setting up its own space agency. President Kgalema Motlanthe signed the Bill in January.
The agency would oversee development of space missions, develop technology platforms, and acquire, assimilate and disseminate space satellite data for any organ of state, the Department of Science and Technology said at the time of signing. — Sapa