About Us 

The University of Pretoria Aeronautical Society of South Africa (UPAeSSA) was formed in 2005 by a few passionate students studying engineering. They believed that the university needed a society with a sole purpose to ignite a passion in students for aviation. This society was the student branch of the Aeronautical Society of South Africa (founded in 1911), who are a division of the Royal Aeronautical Society (founded in 1866). In 2021 UPAeSSA became an official chapter of the Students for Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) South Africa. As a result, the society name was updated appropriately to the University of Pretoria Aerospace Society (UPAS).

The aim of this society is to provide students with new experiences and opportunities to apply their knowledge in all aspects of aviation, aerospace engineering, space exploration, allied branches of engineering and related scientific fields. Our partnership with SEDS-South Africa has also allowed us to provide webinars from the larger international SEDS communities. Topics include all fields related to space such as engineering, medicine, law and astronomy.

Membership will be granted to undergraduate and graduate students currently at the University of Pretoria. Membership is absolutely free and none of the events organised are compulsory. The events are purely for the enjoyment and development of the members. Some of the events will be open to non-members. Merchandise will be made available as well.