Nigerian-built satellite acquires first image just days after launch

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Submitted by Yemisi Akinbobola on Wed, 31/08/2011 - 2:29pm

NigeriaSat-X, has acquired its first satellite image just three days after the successful launch on 17th August.

NigeriaSat-X was built by engineers from Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) under the supervision of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL).

The first satellite image following its launch just 15 days ago reveals buildings and the landscape surrounding the city of Auckland, New Zealand.

The image demonstrates that the satellite’s enhanced 22m wide-area multi-spectral imagery for mapping, agricultural monitoring and disaster relief programmes works well.

Collaborations

Twenty-six Nigerian engineers worked on the project at the SSTL facilities in Guildford for 18 months.

The new generation of Nigerian scientists and engineers trained up under the NigeriaSat-X project will continue to support Nigeria’s space programme, ensuring its continued success and sustainability.

Currently two joint NASRDA-SSTL teams are working in parallel in Abuja and Guildford to commission NigeriaSat-X and NigeriaSat-2, which was launched at the same time.

After the initial commissioning phase is complete, the NASRDA team in Guildford will return to Nigeria to continue NigeriaSat-X operations from the Abuja ground station.

SSTL Executive Chairman, Sir Martin Sweeting, commented:

"NigeriaSat-X is the product of Nigeria’s training and development programme here at Surrey. It is a great credit to NASRDA and their engineers that this satellite is performing well and its operations are progressing so quickly. These highly skilled engineers will not only help Nigeria to manage its resources, but also bootstrap its fledgling high tech economy alongside a growing nucleus of highly trained people.”

The launch of NigeriaSat-X adds a third 22m imager to the seven-satellite Disaster Monitoring Constellation that is coordinated by DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCii) to provide governmental and commercial imaging campaigns.

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is the world's leading small satellite company, delivering operational space missions for a range of applications including Earth observation, science and communications. Since 1981 SSTL has built and launched 36 satellites, as well as providing training and development programmes.