Space agency explains why rocket debris cannot not fall into Nigeria
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has stressed the need for development of satellite technology as a tool tackling the menace of insecurity in the country, which is currently causing havoc in the political, social and economic fabric of the nation.
Director General, NASRDA, Dr. Halilu Shaba, in an interactive session during a special presentation in honour of his formal assumption of office in Abuja, described the Agency as a strategic partner as it possesses relevant capabilities and specialisation in providing support towards combating the security challenges.
Space agency explains why rocket debris cannot not fall into Nigeria The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has stressed the need for development of satellite technology as a tool tackling the menace of insecurity in the country, which is currently causing havoc in the political, social and economic fabric of the nation. Director General, NASRDA, Dr. Halilu Shaba, in an interactive session during a special presentation in honour of his formal assumption of office in Abuja, described the Agency as a strategic partner as it possesses relevant capabilities and specialisation in providing support towards combating the security challenges.
Space in Africa
Nigeria’s first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, was launched on September 27, 2003, and on August 17, 2011, a replacement,
, was launched.
On May 13, 2007, the country’s and Africa’s first
de-orbited on November 11, 2008, and a replacement, NigComsat-1R, was launched on December 19, 2011.
The cost of both satellites was USD 48.4 million, including launch and insurance
. NigeriaSat-1, a satellite built exclusively by the
, cost the country USD 13 million. Both NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X have a design life of seven years.
In 2014, six years after it has outlived its design life, NigeriaSat-1 was decommissioned by engineers and scientists of the National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, burning up in a controlled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
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Published 17 March 2021
The National Space Research and Development Agency says it is putting modalities in place to launch a Cubesat ‘Edusat-2’ within the first half of the year, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The Acting Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Francis Chizea, said this at the ongoing Science and Technology Expo on Tuesday in Abuja, where the agency showcased its research works and achievements.
Chizea explained that EduSat-2 was a build-up on EduSat-1 which the agency built in collaboration with Federal University of Technology, Akure and Japanese Birds-1 programme launched in 2017.
A CubeSat is a type of very small satellite which is based on a standardised unit of mass and volume. It can be used alone or stacked to suit the needs of a specific mission.
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) says it is putting modalities in place to launch a Cubesat ‘Edusat-2’ within the first half of the year.