By Prince Osuagwu

If recent projections fall in place, Nigeria may have another Communications Satellite in the Orbit before November 2011. This is as reliable information from NigComSat, says that programmes leading to the actualisation of replacement for the lost NigComSat1 was making tremendous progress.

Nigerians woke with a rude shock in the morning of November 9, 2008 with the sad news that the country’s Communications Satellite, NigComSat1 was missing in the orbit.

Later that day, MD of Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) ltd, Engr. Ahmed  Rufai, explained that the problem was caused by power loss on the North Solar panel of the satellite during a non-eclipse position.

According to him, the batteries of the satellite were only supposed to discharge during eclipse and recharge in non-eclipse situations while the solar array served as the source of power to the satellite.

Although the anomaly was immediately reported to the satellite manufacturer, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), both teams worked tirelessly for over 24 hours to perform a rescue operation on the satellite without success, necessitating negotiations for replacement.

However, just back from the fifth Quarterly Management Review (QMR) meeting for the NigComSat1R project, in Beijing China recently, Rufai revealed that the project will be completed ahead of the target date of November 2011.

According to him, NigComSat1R spacecraft is a replacement for the NigComSat 1. The spacecraft is designed and manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology, CAST, a subsidiary of the China Great Wall Industry Corporation, CGWIC. Rufai said that the overall design and manufacture of NigComSat1R is identical to that of NigComSat1 with necessary adaptations to address the local market needs.

He explained that NigComSat1R spacecraft can meet Nigeria’s requirements on communication, broadcast, navigation and broadband access and also provide services for Africa, Europe and Asian Continents.

Newly introduced beam over China is to realize a direct link between Africa and Asia. The spacecraft will be operated on geo-stationary orbit at 42.5‘E.

It will provide 14-Ku band active channels, 4-C band active channels, 8-Ka band active channels and 2 navigation active channels. The antenna subsystems of the satellite include 2-Ku band deployable antennas, 2 -ka band fixed antennas, 1-C band navigation antenna, 1-L band navigation antenna.

The satellite design life is 15 years and will be launched at Xichang satellite centre by a  launch March 3B vehicle in November 2011 and great attentions were said to have been paid by both the Chinese and Nigerian Governments in the manufacturing of the spacecraft.

The replacement contract was signed in Beijing, China, March 24 2009, and on May 22 2009 the kick off meeting was accomplished in China where the design for spacecraft and ground segment were defined.

The first Quarterly Management Review was held in China September 8, 2009, and secondly on October 12, 2009 the central cylinder static test was carried out in China and was certified normal.

In March 2010, the Critical Design Review was held in China and during the meeting the Nigerian delegation visited CAST to check the onsite assembly of the satellite; after the third QMR.

On June 17 2010 the structure and thermal assembly was finished and by June 18 2010 the space craft was shipped to the Assembly Integration and Test (AIT) centre of CAST.

The Triple model separation was accomplished in June after the propellant tanks were integrated successfully.
This latest quarterly meeting where Rufai discovered a speedy course of the satellite replacement programme, is actually the 5th.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Prince Adefemi Olayaside, led the Nigerian delegation to the meeting in China and also visited CAST. He was said to have been taken round to check the progress of the NigComSat1R project.

Rufai further revealed that the space craft performance test will be carried out this month as CAST officials have assured of excellent quality spacecraft and are confident that the in-orbit delivery of the space craft will surpass the requirement and expectations of Nigeria.