SciDev.Net (London)
Adole Hassan
17 November 2008
Abuja — Africa's first communications satellite has suffered an energy failure just 18 months after its launch.
The solar panels have malfunctioned on the Chinese-manufactured satellite according to Alhassan Zaku, Nigeria's minister of state for science and technology.
The NIGCOMSAT-1 satellite was launched from China in 2007 (see Satellite launches boost African communications) amidst optimism that it would aid development by linking up rural communities and progressing telemedicine and long-distance learning. There were also ambitious commercial goals. But these are now dashed, say commentators.
Ahmed Rufai, managing director of Nigeria Communication, which runs the satellite management company, said the satellite was powered down on Sunday night (9 November) after it was discovered that the batteries were failing faster than expected.
But Nigeria's ThisDay newspaper (12 November) claims that the satellite has already fallen out of its orbit and been destroyed in order to prevent it from harming others. The paper quotes unnamed sources who allege that the Chinese manufacturers of the satellite used poor-quality materials.
Akin Soyinka, chair of non-governmental organisation Nigeria Internet Watch, told SciDev.Net that the loss of the satellite would damage the country's efforts to bridge the digital divide -- see African action plan pushes satellites for development).
"The federal government invested a lot of resources in building the satellite - to the detriment of education and health in the last four years - with the hope of bridging the digital divide and accelerating the country's development," Soyinka said. "But now all that is gone down the drain."
The 40 billion Nigerian Naira (US$240 million) satellite was entirely government-owned but was "fully insured," said Rufai.
A geostationary satellite, it was supposed to work for 15 years, and is officially monitored by a ground control station in Abuja, Nigeria, with backup stations in China, Italy, northern Nigeria and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) satellite applications centre in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa.
Zaku told SciDev.Net that Internet service providers in Nigeria and telecommunications companies who were using the satellite would be moved to other satellites if engineers confirm that it is unfixable.
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China is a rogue nation so is India.Those two so called Nations support their economies by a rip off scheme purpatrated on third world nations.Nigeria and Nigerian Scientist could develop their own satellite and rocket delivery system but Nigeria is not focused in that direction.Others from the first world critisize Nigeria because of Evil jealousy.Why? Simply because it is realized that Nigerians are the worlds most intellectually gifted people.I lived and worked in Nigeria for four years in the medical field .I know that those people have crafty brains.Nigeria and Nigerians linger on for thou art so fair, Perry Fisher,MD
The setallite failed because it was sabotaged right from the design stages: using shoddy workmanship and materials. By now countries like Nigeria or South Africa should have enough resources - human and otherwise - to develop and deploy their own systems. This is cutting edge technologies you are talking about here. Does anybody think China or any country will play Santa Claus, and give up their technological advantage away just like that ? Come on get a grip.
Nigeria government i have just one word for you,stop business relation with china.They still behave like the rest of the world trying to exploit africa and make their home a better place.How long are we going to relie on others to get things done for us and our children?
It is disgusting to read how BBC gleefully reported this incident - rejoicing at the mis-fortune of your neighbor leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Can one imagine Africans rejoicing on the current global financial crisis, or, the Terrorist attack on London last year - how would the Brits feel? Besides, how many trials and errors did US, UK and other industrialized countries including China & India encountered b4 they finally succeeded on any of their technological development? To call any of our attempts at technological progress a "white elephant" is disingenuous. BBC would prefer their colonial relationship with… [Read Full Text]
That is great, Africa!
Failures in solar panels and batteries are not unusual.
Don't forget, even USA failed many times before it succeeded. And even now, we get disappointments now and then. The latest was reported a few days ago:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/science/space/11nasa.html
So, assuming that some commenters are not weighed down with white-inspired inferiority complex, I suggest that those who do not wish to do business with China because of failed systems, then should bolt even faster AWAY from USA and EU countries which also design failed systems.
In fact, Africa has been doing business with western countries… [Read Full Text]