The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a contract agreement for the construction of the nation’s second Earth observation satellite with British firm Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL).
The new satellite which is named NigeriaSat-2 brings to three the number of satellite projects the nation has embarked on since 2001 when it began a space programme through the establishment of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
When it goes into orbit the satellite will send down 32-metre high resolution imaging data for applications in mapping, water resources management, agricultural land use, population estimation, health hazard monitoring and disaster mitigation and management.
The Director-General of National Space Research and Development NASRDA, Prof. Robert Ajayi Boroffice, at the signing of the contract in Abuja, on 6th November, said this is a bold step for Nigeria in the development of a National Space Plan, building upon the existing NIGERIASAT-1 Earth observation micro-satellite supplied by SSTL in 2003.
SSTL will install a new mission control centre in Nigeria to operate the satellite, which once launched will be able to deliver up to 400 images a day.
Prof Boroffice said 25 Nigerian engineers would undergo training on the technology in the UK, adding that during the two and a half years of training, the engineers would design and build a flight suitable training model of the NIGERIASAT-2, which would be called NIGERIASAT-X as a demonstration of Nigeria’s capacity and capability in building future satellites of its kind in Nigeria with little or no supervision.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, signed on behalf of the Federal Government while the Chief Executive of SSTL, Prof. Martin Sweeting signed on behalf of the British firm. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said that it was imperative for the country to replace the spacecraft NIGERIASAT-1 with NIGERIASAT-2 to ensure data continuity for both local and commercial needs.