3 Nigeria’s satellites no longer in orbit- Report

NigeriaSat-1, NigComSat-1, and EduSat-1 – three Nigerian satellite are no longer in orbit, according to findings by Space in Africa  which produces authoritative business and market analysis reports for the African Space and Satellite Industry segments.

Space in Africa reported that only NigComSat-1R, a communications satellite, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X, an Earth observation satellites, are still active.

The report “Replacing Nigerian Satellite Gone Past Design Life; The Journey So Far” authored by Mustapha Iderawumi , said that “Nigeria’s first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, was launched on September 27, 2003, and on August 17, 2011, a replacement, NigeriaSat-2, the most powerful imaging spacecraft ever sent into orbit , was launched.”

The report went on the say that an equivalent satellite, NigeriaSat-X, was co-launched with NigeriaSat-2 at the Yasny military base in Russia

On May 13, 2007, the country’s and Africa’s first communications satellite, NigComsat-1, was launched at an overall cost of  USD 300 million. It de-orbited on November 11, 2008, and a replacement, NigComsat-1R, was launched on December 19, 2011.

The cost of both satellites was USD 48.4 million, including launch and insurance. NigeriaSat-1, a satellite built exclusively by the Federal University of Technology Akure, cost the country USD 13 million.

Both NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X have a design life of seven years.

In 2014, six years after it has outlived its design life, NigeriaSat-1 was decommissioned by engineers and scientists of the National Space Research and Development Agency, (NASRDA), burning up in a controlled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.

Nigeria’s EduSat-1 was launched on 3 June 2017. The entire cost of the project, including building and launch, was USD 500,000. EduSat-1 de-orbited on 13 May 2019.

Of Nigeria’s six satellites: NigeriaSat-1, NigComSat-1, and EduSat-1 are no longer in orbit. That leaves three active satellites: NigComSat-1R, a communications satellite, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X, an Earth observation satellites.

The design life of NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X ended in 2018, although they are still in orbit and working, but not optimally. The design life of NigComSat-1R will end in 2025.

Nigeria plans for NigeriaSat-3 and NigeriaSAR-1 to replace the two Earth observation satellites, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X that have outlived their design lives.