Chinyere Amalu
27 July 2007
Abuja — In its efforts to realize the Presidential directive to launch 'Made in Nigeria Satellite' by 2015, an additional 25 Nigeria engineers are currently undergoing training to join already trained 50 engineers that will see to the operation of the NigeriaSat-1 and NigComSat-1.
Also with the preparation on ground, a third satellite, (NigeriaSat-2) will be due for launch in 2009, thereby making Nigeria the first African country to launch indigenous communication satellite for the development of African continent.
It was on this note that National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), and Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD) is collaborating with Nigerian universities, the private sector and Nigeria in Diaspora to make the dream of satellite technology acquisition in Nigeria a reality.
Announcing this yesterday in Abuja at inaugural meeting of the Task Team of 'Satellite to Promote Instructional Research Experiment (SPIRE)' a long term project to build critical mass in space science and technology, the Director General of NASRDA, Professor Robert Boroffice said that the meeting is another step taken by the agency to launch made in Nigeria satellite by 2015.
His words, "This meeting represents another critical step in the overall plan by NASRDA to realize the Presidential directive of a "Made -in -Nigeria Satellite" by year 2015.
"NASRDA, through its activity centre, the CSTD, is collaborating with the Nigerian universities, the private sector and Nigerian in Diaspora to make our dream of satellite technology acquisition, a reality".
Speaking further on Spire project, Prof. Boroffice stressed that it will help to develop indigenous expertise in the different facets of satellite technology and exploit the benefits of space science and technology for overall national development.
"Spire project consist of two phases: Spire 1 envisages the building of an engineering model of a multi-mission micro-satellite in two years and Spire 2 will produce a flight model thereafter", he said.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
