, LONDON, UK: British satellite manufacturer Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) today signed a contract with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) of Nigeria for the supply of the NIGERIASAT-2 Earth observation satellite, related infrastructure and a training programme to further establish a national indigenous space capability in Nigeria. The selection of SSTL follows a detailed technical evaluation and due diligence from NASRDA's procurement advisor, Telesat, Canada.
NIGERIASAT-2 will provide Nigeria with valuable geographically referenced imaging for mapping, climate change monitoring, water resources management, agricultural planning, population estimation, health hazard monitoring and disaster mitigation and management.
By signing this contract with SSTL, NASRDA has taken another big step in the development of their National Space Plan following the NIGERIASAT-1 Earth Observation and NIGCOMSAT-1 communications satellite programmes. Commenting on the contract, NASRDA's Director General, Professor Robert Boroffice, stated “this contract is the next step in Nigeria's long term plans to use Space for the benefit of Nigeria and Africa. We are convinced that Space provides a cost-effective means of addressing many of the issues facing African nations such as mapping, water resources management, agricultural land use monitoring, population estimation, health hazard monitoring and disaster mitigation and management”.
SSTL will develop NIGERIASAT-2 based upon its new generation of high resolution earth observation satellites, using the latest advanced small satellite technologies developed from the Topsat and Beijing-1 missions. Combined with the recent Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) contract signing with Deimos, this also marks the next generation of DMC coordinated in the UK by DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCII).
SSTL's CEO Sir Martin Sweeting noted “I am delighted that NASRDA has decided to continue its successful partnership with SSTL on such a critical operational and training programme for Nigeria. Nigeria is a very valued member of the DMC and its continued cooperation with SSTL and DMCII ensures the operational status of the international DMC is extended even further.”
DMC owes its success to the unique coordination of the consortium, whereby each member of the DMC consortium owns and operates its own satellite whilst co-operating with the other members. With NIGERIASAT-2, Nigeria will continue to contribute to the DMC, with the satellite being fully controlled from NASRDA's new satellite Mission Control Centre facilities in Abuja.
The NIGERIASAT-2 contract marks a successful year for SSTL and is expected to create up to 50 new jobs in the area. This, along with the recent contract with Deimos, Spain and the successful launches of TopSat, Beijing-1 and GIOVE-A missions at the end of 2005 illustrates SSTL's ability to successfully manage multiple complex space missions.
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