Nigeria Reaches for the Stars
June 24,2013
Nigeria’s space program is reputed to be one of Africa’s largest, with three satellites in orbit and an ambitious plan to send the first African astronaut into space by 2015. Critics say space dreams are a waste of money in a country wracked by poverty, insecurity and environmental disasters. But space officials say even if the program is in its beginning stages, it is already helping to address some of these problems.
The Nigerian space agency complex is as ambitious and seemingly as impossible as the program itself. On 200 hectares of land, a museum and a planetarium are being built along with a complex for visiting scientists.
But not all of these building projects are funded, and very little construction appears to be going on.
Inside the main building everything is tinted green from the colored glass ceiling and it feels a bit like another planet. With statues of rockets and satellites decorating the lobby, it is easy to see why officials here are so excited.
The agency is in touch with its three satellites in orbit, including NigeriaSat-X launched in 2011. Center for Satellite Technology Development director Spencer Ojogba Onuh says they are particularly proud of NigeriaSat-X, which was built in Britain.
“The NigeriaSat-X was completely designed and manufactured using Surrey Satellite Technology equipment by Nigerian engineers and scientists,” said Onuh.
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