Africa’s BALLS Probes to Pioneer Lunar Radio Astronomy on China’s 2029 Moon Mission

In 2029, Africa is set to launch its inaugural lunar scientific instruments through the Africa2Moon initiative, which has been selected as an international payload onboard China’s Chang’e-8 mission. This groundbreaking project involves the deployment of Bounced African Low Lunar Sphere (BALLS) probes, intended to establish a compact radio astronomy array near the moon’s south pole.

The mission will place three spherical probes on the lunar surface, serving as an experimental platform to validate technologies for forthcoming lunar science missions. Their primary goal is to observe low-frequency radio emissions from far-reaching and ancient cosmic sources—signals that are almost impossible to detect from Earth due to atmospheric interference and human-made radio noise.

The BALLS experiment leverages the moon’s quiet environment to investigate portions of the universe obscured from Earth-bound telescopes. As Carla Mitchell, Africa2Moon’s mission director and SARAO’s Africa Program manager, explains, the lunar terrain provides an unparalleled vantage for capturing low-frequency radio waves unhindered by Earth’s ionosphere and terrestrial disturbances.

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Creating a Lunar Radio Network to Unveil Concealed Cosmic Phenomena

Once deployed, the three BALLS probes will operate collectively as a radio telescope array on the moon. Each spherical device encases antennas sensitive to radio waves below 20 megahertz (MHz), targeting emissions from distant ancient regions of the cosmos.

Observations at frequencies under 50 MHz are notoriously difficult on Earth, where ionospheric effects and extensive radio interference limit their study.

The lunar far side offers one of the quietest radio environments near Earth, making it an ideal site for astronomy research. Data gathered by the BALLS instruments will be transmitted to the Chang’e-8 lander for relay back to Earth, where scientists will analyze the findings.

The probe design features a metal spherical framework constructed from interlocking rings. Inside, two large triangular solar arrays are arranged oppositely to form a tetrahedral internal structure.

China’s 2029 Lunar Mission: A Platform for International Collaboration

The China National Space Administration selected the Africa2Moon payload in April 2025 as one of the international experiments for the Chang’e-8 mission. Launching in 2029, this mission will carry African-made BALLS probes to the moon’s surface, providing a testbed for technologies essential to future lunar radio astronomy.

According to the Africa2Moon team, development has progressed from concept to hardware. Prototypes of the BALLS structures were assembled in April 2026 and are now undergoing trials before integration with the Chang’e-8 mission components.

Various African engineering teams have contributed to the BALLS fabrication, including Petrawell in Cape Town, the Aerospace Systems Research Institute at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Stellenbosch University’s Electronic Systems Laboratory.

Laying the Groundwork for an Expanded African Lunar Observatory

This initial demonstration mission aligns with Africa2Moon’s larger vision of deploying a radio array consisting of 55 antennas on the moon’s far side. Such an extensive setup would greatly enhance research capabilities beyond the initial three-probe system. Future arrays are expected to differ from the current spherical design. As Carla Mitchell describes, these instruments might launch in a flattened configuration and then expand into spherical shapes due to spacecraft constraints.

Additionally, deployment methods could evolve, with upcoming arrays potentially unfolding directly from the lander to cover a larger lunar region instead of relying on robotic deployment.

“We would want to have them a little larger in diameter and so they would have to go in a flat version that will deploy into a ball versus the current version that travels as a ball, due to space constraints,” she said.

Despite limited funding and reliance on volunteers, the project has garnered significant interest. Clive Neal, lunar exploration expert and professor at the University of Notre Dame, praises the initiative for democratizing access to space science.

“I am amazed that it is being done on a shoe-string budget by volunteers. This demonstrates the inspiration of space and if this is successful, it will ignite the reality of space on the African continent.”

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