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Just heard that legendary Mandla “Spaceboy” Maseko, our very astronaut has passed on. @MandlaMaseko1
May your soul fly with the angels, RIP sir!#RIPMandlaMaseko pic.twitter.com/e6yy20cSrU

— Mandla Nhleko ✊ (@Mgilija5) July 7, 2019

If the news of his death are true are true, may his soul rest in eternal peace.
Mandla Maseko's life is said to have been cut short after an accident last night. pic.twitter.com/AgrtKhCU4G

— Thato Mahlangu (@YoungAchieverSA) July 7, 2019

Shabangu said that even though Maseko did not end up going into space, he would have wanted his hope to spread.

\"There were still rocket tests happening before they could go up,\" Shabangu said. \"He really thought that if he went up to space he could inspire young African children that they could do anything. He used to always say that the sky was no longer the limit.\"

\"PHOTO:
Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images, FILE
PHOTO: A model wearing a space suit poses in front of a model of the XCOR sub-orbital Lynx spacecraft at a promotional event in Singapore, Aug. 29, 2014.
>

A memorial service for Maseko will be held on Wednesday.

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