Nigeria new satellite
You're referring to Nigeria's new satellite!
Yes, Nigeria has launched a new satellite called "NigeriaSat-X" (also known as "NigeriaSat-2R") in 2011. It's a remote sensing satellite designed to provide high-resolution images of the Earth's surface, which can be used for various applications such as:
- Land use and land cover mapping
- Crop monitoring and yield prediction
- Disaster response and management
- Environmental monitoring
- Urban planning and development
The NigeriaSat-X satellite was built by the Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in collaboration with the United Kingdom-based company, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). It was launched on August 10, 2011, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The satellite has a mass of about 100 kg (220 lbs) and is equipped with a high-resolution camera that can capture images of the Earth's surface with a resolution of up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet). It has a lifespan of about 5 years and is designed to operate in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 650 km (404 miles).
The NigeriaSat-X satellite has been used for various applications, including monitoring the 2012 floods in Nigeria, tracking deforestation, and monitoring agricultural activities. It has also been used for disaster response and management, such as during the 2013 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping.
In 2020, Nigeria launched another satellite called "NigeriaSat-2" (also known as "NigeriaSat-2R"), which is an upgraded version of the NigeriaSat-X satellite. The NigeriaSat-2 satellite has a higher resolution camera and improved capabilities for data transmission.
These satellites have contributed significantly to Nigeria's space program and have helped the country to develop its capacity for space-based applications and services.