NIGERIA is set to launch two new satellites, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X into the orbit before end of June 2011.
National Space Research and Development’s Head of Media and Corporate Affairs, Felix Ale says the country’s two satellites would be launched into the orbit later this month.
The NASRDA spokesman explained that the NigeriaSat-2 was a follow up to the success recorded with the NigeriaSat-1, which was designed for five years, but had been operating in the orbit for about eight years.
Ale says the satellite had supported over 2000 applications for research within and outside Nigeria pointing out that it had also assisted in the area of flood disaster in Argentina, Uruguay, North Korea, Pakistan, China, Vietnam, United States and some parts of Africa.
Ale says that the NigeriaSat-2 would be used primarily for resource management and mapping within the Nigerian territory.
“The satellite would provide a high resolution system to map Nigeria once every four months,”says Ale.
“It will support the NGDI programme by providing high quality data and enhance human natural resources in the use of satellite data.
“The satellite, which is designed for seven years, will meet demand for high resolution images locally and internationally,” says Ale.
The NigeriaSat-X, on the other hand, is an experimental satellite solely designed and manufactured to improve the standard of Nigerian engineers using the facilities of NASRDA’s technical partners in the United Kingdom.
“The satellite will be launched alongside NigeriaSat-2 for earth observation mission,” confirmed Ale.
The NigComSat-1 was designed in 2007 with a life span of 15 years. The satellite was de-orbited 18 months after launch due to power related problems.
By: Bimbo Omitooki – Senior ICT Journalist
