Nigeria Resumes Rocket Testing

SUNDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2013



AFTER an extended hiatus, Nigeria has resumed its controversial testing of rockets at the Centre for Space Transport and Propulsion (CSTP)—an operational arm of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

Dr. Charles Attah Osheku, the new CSTP director and chief executive officer, confirmed Friday, in a late night phone interview, that a series of test firings of experimental rockets were conducted last March and also in April.

The launches, he said, are ongoing: “We are conducting the tests primarily for scientific purposes, but also as training exercises for our technical personal and a challenge to our scientists and engineers, for whom the experience is vitally important”.

A NASRDA scientific officer, who requested anonymity, reported that CSTP has recently launched several rockets “with varying degrees of success”. Some of these, he said, had reached altitudes of three kilometers, possibly higher.

The size and configuration of the crafts, or whether there is foreign involvement, was not specified. The Guardian had, on Sunday, November 16, 2008, reported that CSTP had been secretly launching indigenously constructed experimental rockets.

During The Guardian’s visit to Epe, in 2008, Oluremi A. Fashade, the then Coordinator of the Centre, brought out one of the rockets and released a video of a successful test. The solid fuel missile was about three metres long and constructed entirely from locally sourced materials.

In his interview, Fashade — who now heads Research and Development at the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education, Il-Ife — said NASRDA would eventually “graduate to bigger and more complex craft.”

Osheku did not reveal the exact dimensions of the rockets his Centre is currently testing. But an earlier interview, with another source, left the impression that these missiles are larger than the ones Fashade had been experimenting with.

Another uncertainty is the site of the launches. At Epe, the testing range was adjacent to the campus of Lagos State University — and may still be.

But when Fashade was Coordinator, he told The Guardian that NASRDA would construct a new launch facility, on a remote island, off Nigeria’s coast.

No one is willing to discuss this now. When the subject was broached to Dr. S.O. Mohammed, the director general at NASRDA, his reaction was: “We don’t want to talk about ‘launch sites’. The Federal Government will decide if, and when, that issue is to be addressed.”

Internationally, rocketry is a sensitive subject, because it encompasses “dual use technology”—instruments that can be used, either for peaceful or military purposes. “Nigeria must, therefore, tread softly,” Mohammed allowed, ” to avoid sending the wrong signals about our intentions, which are entirely peaceful”.

The Space Roadmap mandates NASRDA to develop a full-scale launch vehicle by 2025. But the Agency also has research, training and instructional programmes that are contingent upon rocket development.

This includes a miniature satellite programme, Mohammed noted, whose centrepiece is CanSat— a satellite the size of a soft drink can. It is being developed, with Japanese collaborators, for atmospheric and space weather research.

Source: TheGuardian

Good move .
I cant believe that am the 1st to..... well my thanks goes to emtyhen for fast network









Who build the rocket ni

Second to comment

1st to comment,nice 1.

Yawning!! #just finished scratching my bush... MTN network free me jor.

...good devt.

So naija is nw joing Syria to trouble d World ? my hand no dey o

naija no dulling make una carry go.

Rocket testing, how will that pay the bill jare?





i'm out

When we have a lot to worry about as a nation,our leaders are busy pursuing "white elephant" projects. How would this be of benefit to the citizens of this country who have bear enough and have continued to be patient,hoping that change would come soon.

Would this make other countries to begin to fear us? Or would it make us a super power

Bunch of clueless people.

If one of these rockets misfires and lands in Abuja, it will be well.

All we need is for these dumb politicians to kill themselves with their own stupidity so that we can make room for saner people.

When is the next PDP convention?

More like those "8-sound Bangers"

Rocket battery?

Hoping the rocket will land in aso rock!signs of End time

finally a thread that is best suited for the FTC , ETT , POG , JPB posters

Rocket launch I believe is for space science such as satellite launch. However, rocket launch ability can directly define a country military capability. That is a good one anyway.

Nice

Some people sef .. .... .
Nigeria no conduct research, NA trouble

Ok, Nigeria come dey conduct research, na trouble again. .

I tire ooooo

China, japan and north korea became developed nations before they started building, missiles, rockets and shit. Y won't naija use all these resources on more pressing issues, like an efficient transport system (metro,city buses e.t.c), education, electricity, infrastructure and the well being of its citizens. what do we need a f*cking rocket for at this time? smh

SYRIAsly,We should be PUTIN our differences ASSAD and focus on missle testing rather than Ombaste cult killing helpless civilians.

Danhumprey: When we have a lot to worry about as a nation,our leaders are busy pursuing "white elephant" projects. How would this be of benefit to the citizens of this country who have bear enough and have continued to be patient,hoping that change would come soon.

Would this make other countries to begin to fear us? Or would it make us a super power

Bunch of clueless people.

If u like hav everytin without military back up u will end up been a slave 2 another country 1day I hail d power of Nig military

This is a wellcome development! But can-size satellite, what can it do? Its like throwing a multina can in the air! maybe its just to test our ability to put somrthing up there.

dannysteve99@ya:
So naija is nw joing Syria to trouble d World ? my hand no dey o

My brother let's trouble d world atleast d world will no there is a powerfull country in africa

dannysteve99@ya:
So naija is nw joing Syria to trouble d World ? my hand no dey o

in what what way is Nigeria joining Syria? Is rocketry chemical weapon technology? And what's wrong if we develope our very own delivery systems for both scientific and military use? Everyone's into it. So rest easy abeg.

Nelly Ghenghen: China, japan and north korea became developed nations before they started building, missiles, rockets and shit. Y won't naija use all these resources on more pressing issues, like an efficient transport system (metro,city buses e.t.c), education, electricity, infrastructure and the well being of its citizens. what do we need a f*cking rocket for at this time? smh

China and north korea are not developed countries.

Launch these test rockets fast because we may need it soon.



Our own chemical weapon may be a mixture of omo and water

Danhumprey: When we have a lot to worry about as a nation,our leaders are busy pursuing "white elephant" projects. How would this be of benefit to the citizens of this country who have bear enough and have continued to be patient,hoping that change would come soon.

Would this make other countries to begin to fear us? Or would it make us a super power

Bunch of clueless people.

Rocketry is not some "white elephant" project as you put it.
In more advanced climes, amateurs actually partake it in as a weekend, past-time activity.

My concern here is that Rockets are being launched in a moderately dense location like Epe?

A NASRDA scientific officer, who requested anonymity, reported that CSTP has recently launched several rockets “with varying degrees of success”. Some of these, he said, had reached altitudes of three kilometers, possibly higher.

Surely, one of the Northern states with plenty of landmass to spare would provide more befitting launch sites?

If, as the article claims, the rockets are produced using materials sourced locally, we certainly need to commend the progress made.
Beyond this revelation, I would not celebrate an altitude of 3 km at a time when amateurs are hitting 121,000 feet (30 odd km) elsewhere, because rockets are built using the same scientific principles.



Source

Make una know the area where una de test that thing o.

Danhumprey: When we have a lot to worry about as a nation,our leaders are busy pursuing "white elephant" projects. How would this be of benefit to the citizens of this country who have bear enough and have continued to be patient,hoping that change would come soon.

Would this make other countries to begin to fear us? Or would it make us a super power

Bunch of clueless people.

And how is this a white elephant project? Did anything in the posted article state that the FG has assigned a considerable chunk of funds to this project? Have you thought of the effect this research will have on our budding aeronautic rrsearch sector and the nation's defence arm? Have you thought of the job opportunities this will create for skilled hands?

Seriously, I dont understand folks like you. You complain about the nation's lack of investment in R&, yet when our own Space Agency (one of many FG parastatals) undertakes a commendable project like this, you complain. Abeg park well joor.

hunter2,1:

China and north korea are not developed countries.

I'm sorry, China is not what?

Did I just read 3 kilometers peak ascent by a national rocket? That's just within the troposphere and ridiculously not even half of Mt Everest.
Better late than never. A step in the right direction even though it came 50 years after independence.

hw does dat affect asu strike?