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Obasanjo seeks speedy
launch of 2nd Satellite
President Olusegun Obasanjo has apealed to the China Academy of Space
technology (CAST) to ensure the launch of the country’s second satellite
facility before he leaves office on May 29, 2007.
CAST is handling the NIGCOM SAT-1 communications satellite due for launch in
China next year.
“It is important that this satellite is is launched in the life of this
administration,’’ Obasanjo said today in Beijing after he was briefed on the
progress made on the project.
“It is absolutely necessary that all major tests, products and equipment
tests are done between now and February and if you need extra hands to
achieve this please get them.’’
He said that although the CAST had so far strictly abided by its programme
of 24 months for the launch of its second satellite, he wanted the satellite
launcher to work on a tentative programme to for its launch latest by May 15
next year in case the March 19 date set for the launch was not met.
He also said that Nigeria wanted a sustained level of cooperation in space
technology between the two countries, adding that relations between the two
countries must strive to be complementary in all aspects of space
technology.
The president said that the satellite had political, economic and commercial
interest attached to it, pointing out that he had already made contacts with
his colleagues in Africa on the need for them to patronise the facility.
The facility is expected to be fully insured before it is sent into orbit,
the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The CAST President Yuan Juajin, who briefed the president on the progress
made so far, said NIGCOM-SAT-1, was one of the complicated satellite in the
world and was designed to achieve top-level performance during its projected
15 years life span.
He gave the assurance that the satellite would deliver on the services for
which it was built.
Obasanjo, who was later conducted round the Academy, inspected the satellite
as it was being put together in its various stages.
The president also met with a group of young Nigerian engineers sent to
train on the design and maintenance of the satellite.
The nation’s first satellite was launched about two years ago in Russia and
it has been sending relevant satellite pictures to the country as well as
render services to some west African countries.
The Director-General of the National Airspace Research and Development
Agency, Prof. Robert Boroffice, and the ministers of finance as well as the
minister of state for petroleum are in the delegation.
The president is in China for the summit of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 2006