All is now set for the launching of two Nigeria satellites to the space by the third quarter of next year, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Alhassan Bako Zaku has disclosed during the third annual national media conference on space and technology organised by the National Space Research and Development Agency held in Lokoja, capital of Kogi State, recently stressing that the satellites are about 95 per cent complete.
The minister added that the two Earth Observation satellites namely, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X are of high resolutions, explaining that Nigeriasat-2 carried a high-resolution imagery of 2.5m and 5m [mutispectral] along with a 32m spatial resolution payload that will be used to replace NigeriaSat-1 who have lifespan of five years which is still in the orbit.
Nigerian engineers using facilities of Surrey Satellite Technology of the United Kingdom solely built NigeriaSat-X, which is the first indigenous Earth Observation satellites that will be launched into space.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Seidu Onailo Mohammed explained that the idea behind the media workshop was to assist the journalists with relevant information that will go along way in reshaping the views, interest and understanding of the ordinary man in the country in space science and technology and the benefits that abound in its exploration.