The Nigeria Satellites

By Uthman Akinbola [07/07/12]

Developed nations utilize space technology to explore and enhance development so as to create new forms of opportunities for their countries and citizens. They make use of different kinds of satellites to achieve this.

Satellites, i.e. artificial satellites, are objects placed into orbit around the earth for a variety of purposes, which could be communication or exploratory. They are placed into orbit by multi-stage rockets and are powered by batteries that are charged by solar cells and, in many cases, by nuclear generators. The first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched by the Soviet Union in October 4, 1957. The first United States satellite, Explorer 1, was launched on January 31, 1958.

Satellites may be divided into three; environment, navigation and communication. Environment satellites are used for measuring density; temperature, the strength and direction of the geomagnetic field and for forecast of weather conditions. They are also useful in obtaining images of military value e.g. nuclear explosions in the atmosphere. Earth observation satellites (EOS) fall within this class.

Communication satellites are useful for telecommunications and broadcasting i.e. transmission of television images and radio waves. Navigation satellites help in the determination of positions at sea, monitoring of distress calls from aircrafts and ships. Through the Global Positioning System, GPS, information on the location of ships, aircrafts, e.t.c. are obtained.

Nigeria’s satellite history dates back to 1976, when the Federal Government started a development plan to invest the sum of N 10 million. Nigeria launched her first satellite, NigeriaSAT-1, in September 2003 in Plestek, Russia. NigeriaSAT-1, an EOS, is already due for decommissioning.

The second satellite, NigComSAT-1, was launched into orbit (by China for Nigeria) in May, 2007. The NigComSAT-1, a communication satellite, got lost due to a cut to the fuel supply link of the panel, resulting in a solar flare.

Nigeria launched two satellites, NigeriaSAT-2 and NigeriaSAT-X, on Wednesday 17th August, 2011 in Yasny, Russia. These two are also earth observation satellites, like the SAT-1.

These earth observation satellites form part of a network called Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC). The DMC satellites share information with each other. The SAT-2 will be used primarily for resource management and mapping of the Nigerian territory, while the SAT-X will assist with disaster relief and environmental monitoring campaigns.

On December 19, 2011, Nigeria launched a new communication satellite, NigComSAT-1R in Xichang, China, to replace the lost NigComSAT-1.  The Federal Government is already planning for the launch of two other communication satellites as disclosed by the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan in March, 2012. The President said, “Government has set in motion the process to acquire NigComSat 2 and 3 as backups to NigComSat-1R.”