http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108173175732
By Agency Reporter   
Wednesday, 17 Aug 2011   

Nigeria will today (Wednesday) make history as its NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X satellites will go into the orbit at exactly 8.12am at the launch site in Yasny, in Russi.

This was disclosed by the Head, Media and Corporate Affairs, National Space Research and Development Agency, Mr. Felix Ale, in a statement made available to our correspondent on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the two spacecraft have been integrated on the launch vehicle and fuelling of the launcher is already completed, while all parameters required for a successful launch have been met.

The launch of the satellites is expected to provoke high resolution data revolution in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Ale said, “NigeriaSat-2, after its launch, will be the most advanced satellite of its kind in the global community. The successful launch of the satellites will no doubt re-echo the strategic position of Nigeria as a leading space faring nation in Africa, but it will also represent a landmark achievement of the government and people of Nigeria in the field of space science and technology across the globe.

Nigeria Launches 2 New Satellites Into Orbit
ABUJA, Nigeria August 17, 2011 (AP)

Nigeria has launched two observation satellites into orbit, eight years after launching its first satellite.

President Goodluck Jonathan said Wednesday on the state-run Nigerian Television Authority that NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X went into orbit at 8:45 a.m. (0745 GMT) from a Russian launch pad.

Jonathan said a team of Nigerian engineers and scientists built NigeriaSat-X and that NigeriaSat-2 was a collaboration with a U.K. company.

NASA's website says Nigeria launched its first observation satellite in 2003. Nigeria's first broadcast satellite was lost in space in November 2008, about a year after its launch.

Authorities say one of the uses of the new satellites could be to monitor disaster-prone areas in a country that suffers from droughts and floods.

Jonathan said a team of Nigerian engineers and scientists built NigeriaSat-X and that NigeriaSat-2 was a collaboration with a U.K. company.

Authorities say one of the uses of the new satellites could be to monitor disaster-prone areas in a country that suffers from droughts and floods.

Kobojunkie:

What about the previous satellites we paid China millions of dollars for?

[size=13pt]Nigeria: N30 Billion Satellite Lost Forever - Nigcomsat DG[/size]
Luka Binniyat and Chinyere Amalu19 November 2008

Thas now been confirmed that the disintegrating N29.95 billion ($256 million) NigComSat-1 flown into orbit about a year ago by China Great Wall Industry Incorporation (CGWIC) is irreparably damaged and has been safely de-orbited to its eternal resting place in the heavens.

This was confirmed yesterday by the Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), Mr. Ahmed Rufai, while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology chaired by Usaq Akinlade.

Nigeria had in the quest for technological relevance and empowerment embarked on the task of procuring its own satellites that has so far led to the launch of two. Apart from NigeriaSat 1, a second satellite, a communications satellite called Nigeria Communications Satellite NIGCOMSAT, was also launched in May 2007 in China, but Nigeria lost the second satellite in orbit due to a fault with the solar panel caused by a cut to the fuel supply link of the panel resulting in a solar flare.

The loss of the satellite at the time generated furore that led to calls that Nigeria should stop investing in costly satellite technology but should concentrate on investing in technologies that would bridge the digital divide at lesser cost to the country. But the furore soon died down, when the Chinese authorities promised to replace the lost satellite at no cost to Nigeria.

Kobojunkie:

What about the previous satellites we paid China millions of dollars for? 

Kobojunkie:

^^ At least get your story right . . . . it did cost us money--- it was not free of charge!! The replacement was what was at no cost.


http://allafrica.com/stories/200811190748.html

IG:

Haba @KoboJunkie, why start an argument for the sake of it. Yes, the satellite is worth 30bn but the Chinese funded the project. We were suppose to pay back with the money made from the satellite. Building and launching a satellite is an Engineering project so naturally somebody has to foot the bill.

In May 2007, the Nigerian government rejoiced as the Chinese- built Nigeria Communications Satellite - 1 (NIGCOMSAT-1), was sent into orbit by a Chinese rocket at the Xichang launch facility. Nigeria was upbeat and looking forward to 15 years of advanced telecommunications service, thanks to a satellite which China, along with sending into space, had funded to the tune of well over $200 million.

Determined to firm up its drive towards technological advancement, especially in relation to Information Communications Technology (ICT), Nigeria will Wednesday launch two satellites in faraway Russia after several postponements. The launch was earlier scheduled for July 7.

Although THISDAY gathered that the construction and launch of the satellites cost Nigeria N17.42 billion, the Head of Media and Corporate Affairs of National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA), Mr. Felix Ale, however declined to comment on the cost. He insisted that only the Director General, Seidu Mohammed, who is currently in Russia for the launch could comment on the cost.

One unique feature of this launch is that an experimental satellite built wholly by Nigerian engineers and known as Nigeria Sat X will also be launched at the same time with the earth observation satellite called NigeriaSat2.

NigeriaSat X operated by Nigerian engineers and scientists has a 2.5-metre high spatial resolution sensor as a strength point. The Nigerian professionals who trained abroad were said to have successfully designed and built the experimental satellite called NigeriaSat-X.

The second satellite, NigeriaSat2, is currently in its seventh year in orbit and is a follow-up to the manifestation of the technological innovation behind the design and implementation of the satellite system called NigeriaSat-1 which was launched on September 27, 2003 with a lifespan of five years.

The satellite is a medium resolution multi-spectral low orbiting sun synchronous satellite. It is part of the world-wide Disaster Monitoring Constellation System. Images of the country obtained from the satellite are beamed back to the control station for use by the government.

It can be used for demography such as mapping and planning of population surveys, census enumeration areas, as well as mapping, planning and monitoring of rural and urban growth and to also give advance warnings of natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and storms.

Furthermore, it can be used to avoid or manage any occurrence of man-made disasters like oil pollution, desertification, erosion, forest fire, and deforestation. In agriculture, it is used for mapping, land use planning, management of sustainable grazing, forest logging, planning afforestation programmes, crop inventory and yield forecast.


Nigeria had in the quest for technological relevance and empowerment embarked on the task of procuring its own satellites that has so far led to the launch of two.  Apart from NigeriaSat 1, a second satellite, a communications satellite called Nigeria Communications Satellite NIGCOMSAT, was also launched in May 2007 in China, but Nigeria lost the second satellite in orbit due to a fault with the solar panel caused by a cut to the fuel supply link of the panel resulting in a solar flare.

The loss of the satellite at the time generated furore that led to calls that Nigeria should stop investing in costly satellite technology but should concentrate on investing in technologies that would bridge the digital divide at lesser cost to the country. But the furore soon died down, when the Chinese authorities promised to replace the lost satellite at no cost to Nigeria.

The replaced satellite tagged NIGCOMSAT R is said to be 75 per cent completed and expected to be launched at the end of the year.

[size=13pt]The NigComSat1 experiment was set in motion during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was conceived as a follow up to the nation’s first satellite in orbit, Nigeria Satellite NigerSat1. The NigComSat project was seen as an answer to the country’s quest for technological advancement and a window through which Nigeria hoped to stamp its feet on the consciousness of the global community as a nation to be reckoned with in ICT. The Nigeria Satellite 1, which was facilitated by NARSDA, paved the way for NigComSat1 valued at about $250 million.[/size]

The contract, which was signed in December 2004 between NARSDA and the Great Wall Industry Corporation of China, led to the Chinese company designing, developing, manufacturing and launching the satellite into orbit in May, 2007. China was awarded the deal after it outbid 21 international rivals, including, Britain and the United States to secure the multi-million dollar deal.

The contract package included the cost of the satellite, construction, insurance, value added tax (VAT) as well as the price for building one ground control station in Abuja and a backup control station in Kashi, China.

The satellite has four gateways said to be located in South Africa, China, Italy and Northern Nigeria. The satellite is supposed to have a lifespan of 15 years and is to be monitored and tracked by a ground station built in Abuja while the Chinese firm, Great Wall Industry Corporation, through its ground station in Kashgar, in North-west China is to monitor it.

The satellite, a hybrid communications facility, has a fuel payload that is meant to maintain it in orbit for a maximum of 15 years.

It featured two L-Band transponders, eight Ka Band transponders, four C-Band transponders and 14 KU-Band transponders.

The new replacement satellite, NIGCOMSAT-1R, is said to have similar features with the lost satellite but with few modifications. It is a geostationary satellite with C, Ku, Ka and L bands. The Chinese are said to be enhancing, testing and retesting the new satellite to forestall the possibility of another mishap, but only time will tell if they have succeeded or not.

Nigeria’s investment in satellites is expected to yield several benefits. Those who support the nation’s investments in satellite technology have said it will enable Internet access to even the remotest rural villages, a major quest of stakeholders in recent times. It is also expected to enhance government’s economic reforms, particularly in the areas of e-learning, e-commerce, tele-medicine, tele-education and rural telephony.

The project is also expected to help Nigeria save about $450 million annually spent on the importation of bandwidth from Europe and America to facilitate Internet access, telephony and broadcasting according to the Minister of Science and Technology, Ita Ewa.

Satellite technology is expected to help play key roles in e-commerce by improving government efficiency and promoting the development of the digital economy in Nigeria and Africa. It is expected to bring down the cost of GSM and Internet services in the country as a result of the availability of cheaper satellite bandwidth and help Nigeria break free from its over-reliance on oil trade and transform itself into a knowledge-based economy. Indeed, Ewa recently reiterated that satellite technology would advance Nigeria’s global in readiness rating which is currently pegged at 127th position in the world.

Kobojunkie:

^^^ How about you go do your own research, put together a convincing write up of your own, along with back up evidence to support whatever claims you have to offer. Then you talk then!

All I am trying to do is get real answers to questions, not get told I should not believe what I read from the more legitimate sources simply because you say so.

Thursday, 13 November 2008---- Nigerian satellite fails in space ---Chinese-built NigComSat-1 cost the African oil producer $340m (£228m).    ---  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7726951.stm

08.17.11,-----Nigeria launches 2 new satellites into orbit----NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X went into orbit at 8:45 a.m. (0745 GMT) from a Russian launch pad. NASA's website says Nigeria launched its first observation satellite in 2003. Nigeria's first broadcast satellite was lost in space in November 2008, about a year after its launch.

Authorities say one of the uses of the new satellites could be to monitor disaster-prone areas in a country that suffers from droughts and floods.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/08/17/technology-af-nigeria-satellite-launch_8627543.html

The second satellite, NigeriaSat2, is currently in its seventh year in orbit and is a follow-up to the manifestation of the technological innovation behind the design and implementation of the satellite system called NigeriaSat-1 which was launched on September 27, 2003 with a lifespan of five years.

texazzpete:

Anyone who believes the line that Nigerian Engineers designed and built the second satellite will believe anything
Space Payload is extremely expensive, too expensive to burn on an 'experiment'.

More likely, Nigerian scientists were on the project team.