South Africa’s first ‘Afronaut’ heading to space

South Africa’s second astronaut has been announced after an extensive training process.

Unilever says 24-year old Mandla Maskeko from Mapobane, north of Pretoria, will go into space as part of the company’s Axe brand activation programme.

Maseko will join 21 other candidates aboard the Lynx space craft.

The vehicle will take off like a regular plane, but is equipped with four rocket engines that will propel the craft into space.

Maskeko has spent several weeks at the Apollo Space Academy in the US state of Florida.

Internet billionaire Mark Shuttleworth bought his ticket in 2002 to the International Space Station.

-WATCH INTERVIEW HERE

– By