Nigeria Has Satelite System In The Orbit!

do u know Nigeria has satelite in the moon? if u do, what do u think about it?

i know they did long time ago,but now they r building a center for it in Abuja! please read the article below.

   
FG to Build Satellite Centre in Abuja
From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 03.23.2007

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The Federal Government yesterday said it had granted approval for the construction of two satellite development centres to be located in Abuja, the
Federal Capital Territory. The centres to be known as Satellite Design Centre (SDC) and Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Centre (AITC) are to provide critical infrastructure base for training Nigerian space engineers and scientists and to groom them for the task of  building satellites in the country.
The Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Professor Robert Ajayi Boroffice, who disclosed this at the opening a one-day space science workshop for the media in Abuja, said President Olusegun Obasanjo has given the go-ahead for the establishment of a satellite development centre to enable Nigerian engineersdesign, build, launch and manage our satellites in orbit.
Against the background of the renewed impetus being given   to space technology, government said it has completed the building of Nigerian Communication  satellite and would launch it by  May 12.
Borofiice said in furtherance of the country's aspiration to develop an in-country capacity in the field of space technology, a Nigerian-built satellite would be launched in 2009 along with the NigeriaSat-2.
He said the construction of the Nigerian satellite is being undertaken  by  25 Nigerian engineers presently on a government sponsored study in Surrey in the United Kingdom.
NASRDA D-G also said the construction of the agency's
permanent site had been completed and would be
commissioned next month ahead of the launching of
the communication satellite.
Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner
Isoun, while declaring the workshop open said the
launching of the communication satellite has been
fixed for May 12.
He said the satellite device has already commenced its
journey to the site where the eventual launch into
orbit will be performed in the Chinese city of Siyan.
The Minister said ahead of the formal launch, the
communication satellite has already transmitted well
over 2000 images to its ground base in Abuja.
Isoun said the facility is equipped with 26
transponders to aid communication anywhere in Africa.
"The satellite is also positioned to provide
comprehensive transmission
services via digital or analogue system, operate same
by either fixed or mobile satellite, direct
broadcast satellite services, end-to-end solution and
engage in transponder leasing.", he said.
The building of communication satellite project is
supported by a $200m credit facility from EXIM Bank of
China will provide a wide range of innovative
solutions to challenges facing communication
networking in Nigeria and African continent.
Boroffice said the cost of the design and manufacture
of the country's first ever communication satellite,
NIGCOMSAT-1 is $450 million.
He said the cost estimate include that of
manufacturing the satellite equipment,  building of
ground the station and sponsoring staff training.
The D-G said the advent of a wholly owned satellite
facility by an African nation has put an end to the
continent dependence on outsiders for its needs.
Borofice said shortly after the launching of the
facility, it would be handed over to be managed by a
commercial entity known as NIGCOMSAT Nigeria Limited
which will undertake marketing and sell of bandwidths
and other services of the satellite.
The D-G said NASRDA is currently engaged in some pilot
service delivery effort to institutions including the
University of Abuja where it using its facility to
link the institution's study centre to the main campus
in Gwagwalada and assisting the Ministry of Health to
be in touch with its Primary health centres via
satellite.
He said the agency is also planning to link the
University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and that of
University of Ibadan to some health clinic centre in
the remote villages to enable them attend to patients
through the device known as video conferencing.
Sudanese company, El-RASID Electronic Trading Company
limited yesterday became the first African country to
buy into the satellite project, staking $200m as
equity holding on the facility.
The Dubai-based firm also put down $50m as advance
payment to purchase 10 out of the forty transponders
offered by the communication payload.






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@topic
And eversince, what purposes have we exactly used the satellite for ?