...would launch three satellites and send astronauts into space by 2015. Ewa stated this in Abuja at the ongoing ministerial briefing to commemorate 2012 Democracy Day and anniversary of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration. He said the move was part of government efforts to boost the economy through space technology. The minister enumerated the country's space program from now to 2028, when it expects to launch a made-in-Nigeria satellite into space. "In 2015 we are preparing to launch NigeriaSAR-1 satellite. The NigeriaSAR is a security satellite with an acronym that stands for Synthetic Aperture Radar. This satellite will have a very high resolution that can cover kilometres, and for a backup of the communication satellite, there will be NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-3. Also, because of the experience we gained in Surrey, U.K., we are going to build an Assembly Integration and Testing Centre for satellite technology, it is ongoing but this year we will put in more efforts to that technology. And before I leave office in 2015 we will send a Nigerian Astronaut into space."

NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X under test at RAL. Photo is courtesy of SSTL.

He said by 2018 Nigeria would launch a manufactured satellite and in 2025 develop rocket and propulsion system. "In 2026 we have allies in electronics and software involved in space technology, and in 2028 we would now launch a Nigeria made satellite." Ewa enumerated the achievements of the ministry to include the launch of two low earth observation satellites—NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X as well as a communication satellite, NigComSat-1R. He also said a rocket was successfully launched last Wednesday in Epe, Lagos, with about 40 doctors and 60 masters degree holders having now been trained in space technologies. (Source: allAfrica.com).