Nigeria to Launch Satellite in 2003

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 12, 2002

Nigeria to Launch Satellite in 2003

Nigeria is set to launch its first satellite in July 2003, the News Agency of Nigeria reported on Monday.

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Nigeria is set to launch its first satellite in July 2003, the News Agency of Nigeria reported on Monday.

Science and Technology Minister Isoun Turner was quoted as saying that the satellite, which is to be built in partnership with a British company, will be used for weather observation and later become a communications satellite.

"I think it is one of the best things Nigeria has done," said Turner.

The minister said the micro-satellite project will cost 15 million US dollars, dismissing suggestions that the project was just one of Nigeria's "white elephant."

According to him, 15 Nigerian engineers being trained in Britain will be involved in the design and production of the satellite.

The remote sensing satellite would initially be used to solve practical problems in agriculture, forestry and the oceans by scouring isolated parts of the country for signs of fire or flood,he added.

The Nigerian government had in July 2001 formally adopted a national space policy with the objective of launching its own satellite and space research programs.

The National Space Research and Development Agency early this year said the country would launch its first satellite in May nextyear.

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