Yar’Adua approves local satellite manufacturing centre
President Umaru Yar’Adua has approved the construction of a centre for the local manufacture of satellite infrastructure.
The Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof. Robert Boroffice, who disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, said the target was to make satellite locally in the country by 2012.
He also disclosed that the country had secured the services of the Ukraine satellite launch vehicle, Dnepr, for the launch of its second earth observation satellite, Nigeria SAT-2, which is expected in the orbit by the last quarter of 2009.
Nigeria currently has two satellites in space. While the first, an earth observation satellite, was manufactured by the Surrey Satellite Technology Limited of United Kingdom, the second, a communications satellite, was manufactured by the Great Wall Industry Corporation of China .
But with the establishment of a local satellite manufacturing facility, it is hoped that the nation will end the era of importation of satellite. Apart from Nigeria SAT-2 which is also being handled by SSTL, there are plans to import new communications satellite in the next two years.
Towards the local manufacture of satellite in the country, the authorities had incorporated technology transfer in the current importation model to ensure that satellite manufacturing competencies are gradually transferred onto Nigerian engineers and scientists.
Already, 14 Nigerians are trying their hands on the manufacture of an experimental satellite dubbed; Nigeria SAT-X, but in an offshore facility belonging to SSTL. Also, some NASRDA engineers have developed the Automatic Robotic Control System, a major component of the satellite. Boroffice said, “We have got the presidential approval to build the infrastructure for manufacturing satellite, which is called, Satellite Assembly Integration and Test Centre. We have identified a very good partner and the documents for processing the contract is already with the Bureau of Public Procurement. “As soon as the document is out, we will take it to the Federal Executive Council. Once FEC approves it, we would start building the infrastructure. Hopefully in the next four years, our engineers should be able to build our own satellite here; within these premises.” Boroffice said the local manufacture of satellite would cut down the cost by as much as 50 per cent. He also said with the local manufacture, the country could launch more satellite missions into space.
On SAT-2, the NASRDA boss said, “Discussions are in advanced stage as far the insurance of Nigeria SAT-2 is concerned. It is very important that we insure before we launch the satellite. The launch also has reached an advance stage.
“We had to shop around for a suitable launch vehicle. Five years ago, when we launched Nigeria SAT-1, there were many launch options. Then, the Russian launch vehicles were available. You know, they were converted from missiles. But they have almost used up everything. So launch vehicles are now very scarce to get. I mean those that are not expensive.
“Finally, we have got one in Ukraine, which we are going to use. There were two options – the Falcon from the United States and Dnepr from Ukraine . When you look at the heritage of the two, Dnepr has the higher heritage than Falcon.”
President Umaru Yar’Adua has approved the construction of a centre for the local manufacture of satellite infrastructure.
The Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof. Robert Boroffice, who disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, said the target was to make satellite locally in the country by 2012.
He also disclosed that the country had secured the services of the Ukraine satellite launch vehicle, Dnepr, for the launch of its second earth observation satellite, Nigeria SAT-2, which is expected in the orbit by the last quarter of 2009.
Nigeria currently has two satellites in space. While the first, an earth observation satellite, was manufactured by the Surrey Satellite Technology Limited of United Kingdom, the second, a communications satellite, was manufactured by the Great Wall Industry Corporation of China .
But with the establishment of a local satellite manufacturing facility, it is hoped that the nation will end the era of importation of satellite. Apart from Nigeria SAT-2 which is also being handled by SSTL, there are plans to import new communications satellite in the next two years.
Towards the local manufacture of satellite in the country, the authorities had incorporated technology transfer in the current importation model to ensure that satellite manufacturing competencies are gradually transferred onto Nigerian engineers and scientists.
Already, 14 Nigerians are trying their hands on the manufacture of an experimental satellite dubbed; Nigeria SAT-X, but in an offshore facility belonging to SSTL. Also, some NASRDA engineers have developed the Automatic Robotic Control System, a major component of the satellite. Boroffice said, “We have got the presidential approval to build the infrastructure for manufacturing satellite, which is called, Satellite Assembly Integration and Test Centre. We have identified a very good partner and the documents for processing the contract is already with the Bureau of Public Procurement. “As soon as the document is out, we will take it to the Federal Executive Council. Once FEC approves it, we would start building the infrastructure. Hopefully in the next four years, our engineers should be able to build our own satellite here; within these premises.” Boroffice said the local manufacture of satellite would cut down the cost by as much as 50 per cent. He also said with the local manufacture, the country could launch more satellite missions into space.
On SAT-2, the NASRDA boss said, “Discussions are in advanced stage as far the insurance of Nigeria SAT-2 is concerned. It is very important that we insure before we launch the satellite. The launch also has reached an advance stage.
“We had to shop around for a suitable launch vehicle. Five years ago, when we launched Nigeria SAT-1, there were many launch options. Then, the Russian launch vehicles were available. You know, they were converted from missiles. But they have almost used up everything. So launch vehicles are now very scarce to get. I mean those that are not expensive.
“Finally, we have got one in Ukraine, which we are going to use. There were two options – the Falcon from the United States and Dnepr from Ukraine . When you look at the heritage of the two, Dnepr has the higher heritage than Falcon.”
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