Monday, August 15, 2022
  • Defence Community
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • What we sell
    • My Account
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Press Release
No Result
View All Result
Military Africa
Advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Defence Community
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • What we sell
    • My Account
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Press Release
No Result
View All Result
Military Africa
No Result
View All Result

Nigeria’s space program

Ekene Lionel by Ekene Lionel
March 10, 2022
in Technology
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Nigeria’s space program

The world watched in awe when Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon in 1969 and uttered those now famous words – “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

Since then, the struggle to explore, chart, and exploit outer space continues to inspire Nations across the globe.

You Might Also Like

TAI confirms sale of T-129 ATAK helicopter to Nigeria

Nigeria’s L-39ZAs returns home after Genesys avionics upgrade

Nigeria’s Defence Industry: Building Indigenous Capacity in Designing and Manufacturing Armoured and Ballistic Systems

AU donates Tiger armoured vehicles, military equipment to MNJTF

ADVERTISEMENT

The importance of space travel cannot be overemphasized in today’s world, particularly as technology increasingly search for new frontiers.

With the advent of technological advancements, mankind can now go further into the galaxy to explore uncharted territory, and potentially even uncover new scientific phenomena.

Nigerian Space Program: the roadmap

In 2002, the Assistant General Director of Training and Capacity Building at NASRDA made a presentation paper setting out a 28-year roadmap for the research, developing and launching of satellites from Nigeria by 2030.

The roadmap outlined the agency’s vision to develop, build and launch a Nigerian-made satellite on or before 2030.

Following the plan, Nigeria successfully launched its first satellite, the NigSat-1, in 2002.

The roadmap also includes training Nigerian engineers to build an Earth Observation Satellite by 2006; to launch two satellites, NigSat-2 and NigSat-x, by 2011; to train Nigerian astronauts by 2015; to build and launch a Nigerian made satellite by 2018; and to develop and launch rocketry systems in Nigeria.

More notably, by 2030, to launch a satellite from Nigerian territory. After that, send a man to the moon.

Current status of the Nigerian Space Program

Although the roadmap appears to be remarkable at the time, it has met several of Nigerian’s expectations.

For instance, the little-known Centre For Space Transport And Propulsion (CSTP), a technical arm of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has successfully developed and launched three rockets in 2019.

It’s been more than two decades since Nigeria’s first space Institute was commissioned, today, Nigerian space institutions strive to meet the objectives set out in a 28-year roadmap amid widespread scepticism and constrained funding.

However, CSTP officials believes they can still achieve the strategic goal if the government prioritizes funding for the project.

Nigeria’s Space Program: The way forward

To be viable, the various Nigerian Space Agencies would need to look at how we can create typical Nigerian solutions to most of our problems.

In this way, they can generate proper income stream to keep their operations afloat considering the funding constraints.

One way is to provide commercial and open-source data and imagery capabilities for the commercial and agricultural sector, aside their stated role of providing data for governments geographic use.

Satellites can also be useful in tracking the movements of terrorist groups in remote areas of the country.

Advertisements
Tags: NASDRANigeria
Share128Tweet80

You should see this

General Dynamics to Support USAF Cyber Network in Europe, Africa

General Dynamics to Support USAF Cyber Network in Europe, Africa

July 23, 2022
Togo and Burkina Faso receives Turkish ASFAT MEMATT counter-mine system

Togo and Burkina Faso receives Turkish ASFAT MEMATT counter-mine system

July 21, 2022
uk spectra slingshot communication in mali

Spectra’s SlingShot SATCOM in use by UK forces Mali

July 12, 2022
Additional UN helicopters gets Bird’s AMPS Solution

Additional UN helicopters gets Bird’s AMPS Solution

July 11, 2022

Sign up for our Newsletter

Resources

  • About Military Africa
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • Connect with real people that matters
  • Contact Military Africa
  • Magazines
  • Merchandise
  • My Account
  • Services
No Result
View All Result
  • Defence Community
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • What we sell
    • My Account
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Press Release