– President Jonathan Hails Development
FROM Xichang Satellite Launch Center in South West China on Sunday, and about 5:40PM local time in Abuja, Nigeria’s latest communications satellite, NigComSat1R, launched into outer space.
Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the successful launching of the new Communications Satellite today is another great step forward for the country towards the development of a modern, knowledge- driven society.
In a congratulatory statement to the nation, President Jonathan said that with the successful launching of the new satellite, Nigeria had kept up with the time-frame of activities contained in the country’s 25-year National Space Development Road-map.
He noted that the new satellite, paid for by the insurance policy on NigComSat-1 which de-orbited in 2009, will have a positive impact on national development in various sectors such as communications, internet services, health, agriculture, environmental protection and national security.
“It will enhance our communications system as well as facilitate cheaper access to the internet with a view to bridging the existing digital divide between our urban and predominantly rural communities and thereby bringing government nearer to the grass roots,” President Jonathan said.
NigComSat-1R, the President added, will also help in the development of indigenous competence in the management of satellites and related technologies in Nigeria.
He said that the new satellite will substantially reduce the annual expenditure of over $1 Billion arising from the use of foreign bandwidth for GSM Communications, cable television, e-commerce and e-government by both public and private users in the country.
“Investment in these high technology resources are part of our overall national strategy of developing an integrated critical national infrastructure capable of fast-tracking the transformation of our national economy, generating gainful employment for our youths and creating wealth for our dear country.”
“Our primary goal remains the accelerated improvement in the overall welfare or our country and people.
“I send my sincere congratulations to you all for another great stride in our Transformation efforts.” President Jonathan said.
The launch was conducted according to the NigComSat-1R contract signed by NIGCOMSAT and China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
NigComSat-1R is a replacement for the Nigeria Communications Satellite 1 (NigComSat-1) that failed in orbit.
NigComSat-1R spacecraft is built on Dong Fang Hong 4 (DFH-4) satellite bus developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and launched by LM-3B launch vehicle, developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle (CALT). China Satellite Launch Tracking and Control General (CLTC) is providing tracking, control and ground segment support for the programme.
It is the eighthth satellite built on the DFH-4 bus for in-orbit delivery. NigComSat-1R launch is the 18th flight of LM-3B launch vehicle and the 154th flight in the series of the Long March launchers.
The project was executed in conjunction with over 50 NigComSat engineers, who spent 31 months in China. The satellite with service lifespan of over 15 years was designed to meet the needs of telecommunications, maritime, defence, broadcast media in Africa, particularly Nigeria, parts of Europe and Asia. It has 28 active transponders, and quad band of Ku, Ka, C-Band and L-band.
Two ground stations located in Abuja, Nigeria and Kashi, China owned by NigComSat, participated in the launch.
In a statement, NIGCOMSAT Director of Communications, Mr. Sonny Aragba-Akpore from China yesterday, quoted the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai as saying: “This is mission fulfilled.”
According to him, top government officials, including Communications Technology, Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, her Science and Technology counterpart, Prof. Okon Ewa Bassey, Chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, Gilbert Nnaji, members of the House of Representatives, NigComSat 1R Project Director and Executive Director, Marketing, Abimbola Alale and Chief Executive of LASACO Insurance Plc, Mr. Sola Ladipo-Ajayi witnessed the event.
NigComSat-1R, covering Central, Western and Southern Africa, Central and Eastern part of Europe, and some areas of Mid-Asia, will be mainly used for communications, broadcasting, tele-education, broad-band multimedia service, navigation service, among others.
The satellite is expected to improve relevant infrastructure in Nigeria and benefit the people within its coverage. It will also promote the economic and technological development of Nigeria’s neighbours in sub-Sahara Africa.
NigComSat-1 was de-orbited due to the malfunction of Solar Array Deployment Assembly (SADA) on November 10, 2008. China Space committed itself to build a replacement satellite for Nigeria at no additional cost. China Space accepted responsibility for the failure for both the customer and itself, based on thorough investigation of the incident.
The Nigerian Academy of Science has congratulated Nigeria on the development.
President of the Academy, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, described the development as cheering news for the country.
The launch was conducted according to the NigComSat-1R contract signed by NIGCOMSAT and China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
NigComSat-1R is a replacement for the Nigeria Communications Satellite 1 (NigComSat-1) that failed in orbit.
NigComSat-1R spacecraft is built on Dong Fang Hong 4 (DFH-4) satellite bus developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and launched by LM-3B launch vehicle, developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle (CALT). China Satellite Launch Tracking and Control General (CLTC) is providing tracking, control and ground segment support for the programme.
It is the eighthth satellite built on the DFH-4 bus for in-orbit delivery. NigComSat-1R launch is the 18th flight of LM-3B launch vehicle and the 154th flight in the series of the Long March launchers.
The project was executed in conjunction with over 50 NigComSat engineers, who spent 31 months in China. The satellite with service lifespan of over 15 years was designed to meet the needs of telecommunications, maritime, defence, broadcast media in Africa, particularly Nigeria, parts of Europe and Asia. It has 28 active transponders, and quad band of Ku, Ka, C-Band and L-band.
Two ground stations located in Abuja, Nigeria and Kashi, China owned by NigComSat, participated in the launch.
In a statement, NIGCOMSAT Director of Communications, Mr. Sonny Aragba-Akpore from China yesterday, quoted the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai as saying: “This is mission fulfilled.”
According to him, top government officials, including Communications Technology, Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, her Science and Technology counterpart, Prof. Okon Ewa Bassey, Chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, Gilbert Nnaji, members of the House of Representatives, NigComSat 1R Project Director and Executive Director, Marketing, Abimbola Alale and Chief Executive of LASACO Insurance Plc, Mr. Sola Ladipo-Ajayi witnessed the event.
NigComSat-1R, covering Central, Western and Southern Africa, Central and Eastern part of Europe, and some areas of Mid-Asia, will be mainly used for communications, broadcasting, tele-education, broad-band multimedia service, navigation service, among others.
The satellite is expected to improve relevant infrastructure in Nigeria and benefit the people within its coverage. It will also promote the economic and technological development of Nigeria’s neighbours in sub-Sahara Africa.
NigComSat-1 was de-orbited due to the malfunction of Solar Array Deployment Assembly (SADA) on November 10, 2008. China Space committed itself to build a replacement satellite for Nigeria at no additional cost. China Space accepted responsibility for the failure for both the customer and itself, based on thorough investigation of the incident.