China's Space Program News Thread
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Lieutenant General
Re: Chinese Satellites
I hope IMO that when the Chinese are done using this space station they can send it to Lunar orbit for future use.
Here's some promotional stuff.
I hope IMO that when the Chinese are done using this space station they can send it to Lunar orbit for future use.
escobar
Brigadier
Re: Chinese Satellites
China appears to be on the brink of selecting female taikonaut for the up-coming Shenzhou 9 mission, likely to launch in early June. Following the success of last year’s Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1 unmanned docking, 2012 is expected to mark another first, with a crewed Shenzhou-9 set to launch and dock with Tiangong 1.
Chinese Preparations for Shenzhou-9:
Processing for the mission has been proceeding well, with the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft already integrated with its Long March 2-F launch vehicle. No fixed launch date has set at this time, although the mission is expected to occur sometime in early June.
During comments to Chinese publication People’s Daily, Niu Hongguang – deputy commander-in-chief of the country’s manned space – acknowledged female taikonauts had made the cut in initial crew selection process.
Authorities have completed the initial selection of crew members for China’s first crewed space docking mission, and the team includes our female astronauts,” Niu Hongguang noted.
Previous reports from China over the past two years had confirmed the selection of a second batch of Chinese taikonauts, comprising five men and two women in 2010.
Although the Chinese do not officially reveal the names of their would-be space travellers until just before each flight, Western observers, and more recently Chinese ‘netizens’, have already identified the two female taikonauts as People’s Liberation Army Air Force pilots, Major Liu Yang and Captain Wang Yaping.
It is undoubtedly this duo who are competing for the coveted seat aboard Shenzhou, and a place in Chinese history.
Chinese officials had already said that a training group of seven men – all from the original 1998 taikonaut team – and the two women had been pre-selected for the Shenzhou 9, and subsequent Shenzhou 10 missions. Western observers believe that they are almost certainly formed into three potential space crews, two mixed, and one all-male.
If previous Chinese crewing patterns are followed, the three crews will be trained and prepared in parallel, with the best overall team assigned to the actual mission.
Niu Hongguang’s recent comments appeared to support this approach, as he explained that “The final three-person crew will only be determined at the last possible moment, based on examination results.”
Comments at the end of last week in the Chinese media quoted Qi Faren, the former Chief Designer of the Shenzhou spacecraft, hinted that there is a wish to carry out this historic selection of a female astronaut, if they pass their tests – noting: “If the two female astronauts perform satisfactorily in the final flight readiness tests, then their selection will be given priority.
”I hope, and I know they both hope, that it will be possible for one of them to be launched into space. Both are in excellent physical and psychological condition.”
Chinese media statements on the manned space programme are notoriously guarded and often ambiguous, so the comments of Niu and Qi, taken together, suggest that China has already decided to include a woman in the Shenzhou 9 crew, but is avoiding saying so directly, to avoid losing face, should something go awry in the next few weeks.
Other details of the flight plan for Shenzhou 9 have already been revealed including a 10 day stay at Tiangong 1, within a total mission duration of 13 days. This will more than double the current Chinese duration record set on Shenzhou 6, in 2005.
The Chinese have also revealed that a crew member will remain inside Shenzhou 9 at all times, while it is docked with Tiangong 1. This is to deal with any unplanned emergencies or events. It is not clear from Chinese statements if this will be the same crew member at all times.
The apparent decision to include a woman in the Shenzhou 9 crew has surprised western observers, who were aware of previous Chinese suggestions that the women would not be considered before the Shenzhou 10 flight, which has now slipped into 2013.
Whilst Liu and Wang will have been carefully chosen from the small pool of eligible female pilots, they have only been training for spaceflight for two years, compared to their male colleagues fourteen years of preparation.
Their 1200+ hours of aviation experience has been gained co-piloting turboprop transports, on routine cargo flights. Both are in their early thirties, much younger than the men, and both are married to fellow Air Force officers.
Assuming that there has not been political pressure to send a woman into orbit, the inclusion of the inexperienced Liu or Wang in the Shenzhou 9 crews seems to reflect a high level of confidence from the normally cautious Chinese mission planners, in both their crew selection processes and their space hardware.
As they watched television coverage of the last Chinese manned spaceflight, Shenzhou 7, in September 2008, neither Major Liu or Captain Wang could have dreamt that they would be contesting a seat on the very next manned launch, with the immortal title of ‘first Chinese woman in space’, at stake.
China appears to be on the brink of selecting female taikonaut for the up-coming Shenzhou 9 mission, likely to launch in early June. Following the success of last year’s Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1 unmanned docking, 2012 is expected to mark another first, with a crewed Shenzhou-9 set to launch and dock with Tiangong 1.
Chinese Preparations for Shenzhou-9:
Processing for the mission has been proceeding well, with the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft already integrated with its Long March 2-F launch vehicle. No fixed launch date has set at this time, although the mission is expected to occur sometime in early June.
During comments to Chinese publication People’s Daily, Niu Hongguang – deputy commander-in-chief of the country’s manned space – acknowledged female taikonauts had made the cut in initial crew selection process.
Authorities have completed the initial selection of crew members for China’s first crewed space docking mission, and the team includes our female astronauts,” Niu Hongguang noted.
Previous reports from China over the past two years had confirmed the selection of a second batch of Chinese taikonauts, comprising five men and two women in 2010.
Although the Chinese do not officially reveal the names of their would-be space travellers until just before each flight, Western observers, and more recently Chinese ‘netizens’, have already identified the two female taikonauts as People’s Liberation Army Air Force pilots, Major Liu Yang and Captain Wang Yaping.
It is undoubtedly this duo who are competing for the coveted seat aboard Shenzhou, and a place in Chinese history.
Chinese officials had already said that a training group of seven men – all from the original 1998 taikonaut team – and the two women had been pre-selected for the Shenzhou 9, and subsequent Shenzhou 10 missions. Western observers believe that they are almost certainly formed into three potential space crews, two mixed, and one all-male.
If previous Chinese crewing patterns are followed, the three crews will be trained and prepared in parallel, with the best overall team assigned to the actual mission.
Niu Hongguang’s recent comments appeared to support this approach, as he explained that “The final three-person crew will only be determined at the last possible moment, based on examination results.”
Comments at the end of last week in the Chinese media quoted Qi Faren, the former Chief Designer of the Shenzhou spacecraft, hinted that there is a wish to carry out this historic selection of a female astronaut, if they pass their tests – noting: “If the two female astronauts perform satisfactorily in the final flight readiness tests, then their selection will be given priority.
”I hope, and I know they both hope, that it will be possible for one of them to be launched into space. Both are in excellent physical and psychological condition.”
Chinese media statements on the manned space programme are notoriously guarded and often ambiguous, so the comments of Niu and Qi, taken together, suggest that China has already decided to include a woman in the Shenzhou 9 crew, but is avoiding saying so directly, to avoid losing face, should something go awry in the next few weeks.
Other details of the flight plan for Shenzhou 9 have already been revealed including a 10 day stay at Tiangong 1, within a total mission duration of 13 days. This will more than double the current Chinese duration record set on Shenzhou 6, in 2005.
The Chinese have also revealed that a crew member will remain inside Shenzhou 9 at all times, while it is docked with Tiangong 1. This is to deal with any unplanned emergencies or events. It is not clear from Chinese statements if this will be the same crew member at all times.
The apparent decision to include a woman in the Shenzhou 9 crew has surprised western observers, who were aware of previous Chinese suggestions that the women would not be considered before the Shenzhou 10 flight, which has now slipped into 2013.
Whilst Liu and Wang will have been carefully chosen from the small pool of eligible female pilots, they have only been training for spaceflight for two years, compared to their male colleagues fourteen years of preparation.
Their 1200+ hours of aviation experience has been gained co-piloting turboprop transports, on routine cargo flights. Both are in their early thirties, much younger than the men, and both are married to fellow Air Force officers.
Assuming that there has not been political pressure to send a woman into orbit, the inclusion of the inexperienced Liu or Wang in the Shenzhou 9 crews seems to reflect a high level of confidence from the normally cautious Chinese mission planners, in both their crew selection processes and their space hardware.
As they watched television coverage of the last Chinese manned spaceflight, Shenzhou 7, in September 2008, neither Major Liu or Captain Wang could have dreamt that they would be contesting a seat on the very next manned launch, with the immortal title of ‘first Chinese woman in space’, at stake.
escobar
Brigadier
Re: Chinese Satellites
China has begun designing and manufacturing the flight model entity of its third lunar probe, Chang'e-3, according to the administration of China's lunar probe project.
As a key part of the second step of China's three-phase lunar probe projects, the Chang'e-3 mission has entered the flight mode phase from prototype phase, according to a statement from the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) on Tuesday.
The third probe will carry a lunar rover and other instruments for land surveys, living conditions assessment, and space observations.
Chang'e-3 is scheduled to be launched in 2013. Its predecessor, Chang'e-2 was launched on Oct.
Earlier last month, China published a full coverage map as well as several high-resolution images of the moon captured by Chang'e-2, which are the highest-resolution photos of the entirety of the moon's surface thus far.
Also in the SASTIND statement, China has started the comprehensive construction of its high-resolution earth observation system.
China will begin to develop a new-type satellite for the construction of the system from 2013. The system is expected to be set up around 2020, said the statement.
As one of China's 16 major scientific projects set in its national outline for scientific and technological development (2006-2020), the system will be used to provide information service and policy-making support for fields such as modern agriculture, disaster prevention and reduction and public security.
China has begun designing and manufacturing the flight model entity of its third lunar probe, Chang'e-3, according to the administration of China's lunar probe project.
As a key part of the second step of China's three-phase lunar probe projects, the Chang'e-3 mission has entered the flight mode phase from prototype phase, according to a statement from the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) on Tuesday.
The third probe will carry a lunar rover and other instruments for land surveys, living conditions assessment, and space observations.
Chang'e-3 is scheduled to be launched in 2013. Its predecessor, Chang'e-2 was launched on Oct.
Earlier last month, China published a full coverage map as well as several high-resolution images of the moon captured by Chang'e-2, which are the highest-resolution photos of the entirety of the moon's surface thus far.
Also in the SASTIND statement, China has started the comprehensive construction of its high-resolution earth observation system.
China will begin to develop a new-type satellite for the construction of the system from 2013. The system is expected to be set up around 2020, said the statement.
As one of China's 16 major scientific projects set in its national outline for scientific and technological development (2006-2020), the system will be used to provide information service and policy-making support for fields such as modern agriculture, disaster prevention and reduction and public security.
escobar
Brigadier
Re: Chinese Satellites
ZY-1-02C satellite
Beijing's Capital International Airport
The latest high-resolution images delivered by China's high-resolution remote sensing satellites ZY-1-02C and ZY-1-03C were released by China's Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application Wednesday.
The ZY-1-02C, launched on Dec 22 of last year, has become the first customized land resources satellite for Chinese clients, the center said.
Yu Wenyong, head of the China's Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application, said, “Engines of large aircraft at Beijing's Capital International Airport can be clearly seen from the images delivered from remote sensing satellite ZY-1-02C, as well as vehicles and trees on the road, and the texture of the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, and even steel beams of the Bird's Nest are clearly seen.”
“The highest resolution of remote sensing satellite ZY-1-02C is 2.36 meters,” he added.
With two high-resolution color cameras and one multi-spectral camera, the ZY-1-02C will provide clients with images for disaster relief services, agriculture development, environmental monitoring and other applications.
China's first high-resolution remote sensing satellite ZY-1-02C has carried out orbital tests, and images delivered from it reach international standards, China's Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application said Wednesday.
“As for the ZY-1-03C, the highest resolution is 2.1 meters. The resolution of our current satellites has reached the level of the same kind in France, Japan and India,” said Yu Wenyong.
According to Yu, the test of ZY-1-02C and ZY-1-03C has entered the final stage, and they are about to be used. China will launch three more land resources satellites, and the pixelation will reach 1 meter, which will offer important technical support to China’s land resources and stereo mapping figures.
ZY-1-02C satellite
Beijing's Capital International Airport
The latest high-resolution images delivered by China's high-resolution remote sensing satellites ZY-1-02C and ZY-1-03C were released by China's Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application Wednesday.
The ZY-1-02C, launched on Dec 22 of last year, has become the first customized land resources satellite for Chinese clients, the center said.
Yu Wenyong, head of the China's Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application, said, “Engines of large aircraft at Beijing's Capital International Airport can be clearly seen from the images delivered from remote sensing satellite ZY-1-02C, as well as vehicles and trees on the road, and the texture of the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, and even steel beams of the Bird's Nest are clearly seen.”
“The highest resolution of remote sensing satellite ZY-1-02C is 2.36 meters,” he added.
With two high-resolution color cameras and one multi-spectral camera, the ZY-1-02C will provide clients with images for disaster relief services, agriculture development, environmental monitoring and other applications.
China's first high-resolution remote sensing satellite ZY-1-02C has carried out orbital tests, and images delivered from it reach international standards, China's Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application said Wednesday.
“As for the ZY-1-03C, the highest resolution is 2.1 meters. The resolution of our current satellites has reached the level of the same kind in France, Japan and India,” said Yu Wenyong.
According to Yu, the test of ZY-1-02C and ZY-1-03C has entered the final stage, and they are about to be used. China will launch three more land resources satellites, and the pixelation will reach 1 meter, which will offer important technical support to China’s land resources and stereo mapping figures.
escobar
Brigadier
Re: Chinese Satellites
Preparations are well advanced to launch a moon mission and bring about 2 kilograms of lunar soil samples to Earth, a leading space program official said. The mission is part of the third phase of the lunar exploration program.
Engineers are expected to lay the groundwork this year, said Hu Hao, chief designer of the lunar exploration program's third phase and a deputy to the National People's Congress, which ended on Wednesday.
The mission will involve a "relay" approach, that will require precision rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit, he said.
The mission will see a rocket launched from Earth. A four-module spacecraft will then enter lunar orbit.
Two modules will land on the moon, one will scoop up soil. This will be placed into the ascending module that will blast off from the lunar surface and dock with the orbiting module. The sample will then be transferred from this module to one that will be jettisoned for Earth re-entry.
Declining to confirm the launch date, though previous reports suggested 2017, Hu said that several key technologies have to be perfected, including the launch of the ascending module from the lunar surface and the collection of soil samples.
"It's impossible to know the conditions that the module descending onto the moon will experience," he said.
They could be sandy, or rocky, and collecting soil samples depends on the type of conditions at the landing site, he said.
Getting samples is notoriously difficult. A mission sent by the former Soviet Union once had a drill attached to the landing module but even that failed to deeply penetrate the lunar surface.
Its three missions collected just over 300 grams of lunar soil. The United States had better success. Its Apollo program returned 381.7 kilograms of rocks and other material from the moon, thanks in large part to astronauts. The US gave China one gram of lunar soil as a gift in 1978. China requires lunar soil to conduct scientific research.
Judging just how much lunar soil can be scooped up and returned to Earth is difficult.
"Our mission is also a robotic mission. Scientists expect the mission to bring back 2 kilograms of lunar soil but the exact amount of soil returned might be less," he said.
Rendezvous and docking in a lunar orbit also poses challenges. But lessons can be learned from previous rendezvous and docking between the unmanned Shenzhou VIII spacecraft and Tiangong-1 space lab module, he said.
"A lunar-orbit rendezvous is more than 300,000 km from Earth. It will fully test our telemetry, track and command systems," he said.
Engineers also have to solve the re-entry problem. The return capsule will be hurtling to Earth at, or close to, speeds of 11.2 km per second. This speed will be faster than returning manned spacecraft, which re-enter at 7.9 km per second.
Ensuring a safe return at this speed is one of the challenges, he added. China's lunar exploration program has three stages; orbiting, landing and returning.
Currently China is in the second stage, with three lunar exploring spacecraft, Chang'e-2, Chang'e-3 and Chang'e-4.
Ye Peijian, chief commander of the third lunar probe, Chang'e-3, at the China Academy of Space Technology, said that it is expected to be launched next year to conduct lunar exploration.
Different from the previous two orbiters and other spacecraft China designed, Chang'e-3 is the first spacecraft with "legs" to support itself in landing, he said, adding that previous manned spacecraft used parachutes.
The orbiter will carry a lunar rover and other instruments for surveys and observation, said Ye, a member of the top political advisory body.
The 100-kg lunar rover, China's first such device, is designed to operate on the moon for more than three months and during this time it will encounter extreme conditions, including temperatures below -170 C.
China launched Chang'e-1 in 2007 and Chang'e-2 in 2010. The first probe retrieved a great deal of scientific data and a complete map of the moon while the second created a full higher-resolution map of the moon.
The Chang'e-2 is now on an extensive exploration mission some 1.5 million km from Earth. Ye said it is in good condition and scientists are planning its next stage.
"It could fly toward the Earth to test returning orbit for future spacecraft or travel farther to explore an asteroid," he said.
Preparations are well advanced to launch a moon mission and bring about 2 kilograms of lunar soil samples to Earth, a leading space program official said. The mission is part of the third phase of the lunar exploration program.
Engineers are expected to lay the groundwork this year, said Hu Hao, chief designer of the lunar exploration program's third phase and a deputy to the National People's Congress, which ended on Wednesday.
The mission will involve a "relay" approach, that will require precision rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit, he said.
The mission will see a rocket launched from Earth. A four-module spacecraft will then enter lunar orbit.
Two modules will land on the moon, one will scoop up soil. This will be placed into the ascending module that will blast off from the lunar surface and dock with the orbiting module. The sample will then be transferred from this module to one that will be jettisoned for Earth re-entry.
Declining to confirm the launch date, though previous reports suggested 2017, Hu said that several key technologies have to be perfected, including the launch of the ascending module from the lunar surface and the collection of soil samples.
"It's impossible to know the conditions that the module descending onto the moon will experience," he said.
They could be sandy, or rocky, and collecting soil samples depends on the type of conditions at the landing site, he said.
Getting samples is notoriously difficult. A mission sent by the former Soviet Union once had a drill attached to the landing module but even that failed to deeply penetrate the lunar surface.
Its three missions collected just over 300 grams of lunar soil. The United States had better success. Its Apollo program returned 381.7 kilograms of rocks and other material from the moon, thanks in large part to astronauts. The US gave China one gram of lunar soil as a gift in 1978. China requires lunar soil to conduct scientific research.
Judging just how much lunar soil can be scooped up and returned to Earth is difficult.
"Our mission is also a robotic mission. Scientists expect the mission to bring back 2 kilograms of lunar soil but the exact amount of soil returned might be less," he said.
Rendezvous and docking in a lunar orbit also poses challenges. But lessons can be learned from previous rendezvous and docking between the unmanned Shenzhou VIII spacecraft and Tiangong-1 space lab module, he said.
"A lunar-orbit rendezvous is more than 300,000 km from Earth. It will fully test our telemetry, track and command systems," he said.
Engineers also have to solve the re-entry problem. The return capsule will be hurtling to Earth at, or close to, speeds of 11.2 km per second. This speed will be faster than returning manned spacecraft, which re-enter at 7.9 km per second.
Ensuring a safe return at this speed is one of the challenges, he added. China's lunar exploration program has three stages; orbiting, landing and returning.
Currently China is in the second stage, with three lunar exploring spacecraft, Chang'e-2, Chang'e-3 and Chang'e-4.
Ye Peijian, chief commander of the third lunar probe, Chang'e-3, at the China Academy of Space Technology, said that it is expected to be launched next year to conduct lunar exploration.
Different from the previous two orbiters and other spacecraft China designed, Chang'e-3 is the first spacecraft with "legs" to support itself in landing, he said, adding that previous manned spacecraft used parachutes.
The orbiter will carry a lunar rover and other instruments for surveys and observation, said Ye, a member of the top political advisory body.
The 100-kg lunar rover, China's first such device, is designed to operate on the moon for more than three months and during this time it will encounter extreme conditions, including temperatures below -170 C.
China launched Chang'e-1 in 2007 and Chang'e-2 in 2010. The first probe retrieved a great deal of scientific data and a complete map of the moon while the second created a full higher-resolution map of the moon.
The Chang'e-2 is now on an extensive exploration mission some 1.5 million km from Earth. Ye said it is in good condition and scientists are planning its next stage.
"It could fly toward the Earth to test returning orbit for future spacecraft or travel farther to explore an asteroid," he said.
escobar
Brigadier
Re: Chinese Satellites
Starting from 2013, China will develop and launch a series of new-model earth observing satellites and put them into use. It plans to complete the construction of a high-resolution earth observing system by around 2020.
The project of constructing a high-resolution earth observing system, approved and started in May of 2010, is one of the 16 major special projects set by the “Outline of National Program for Medium and Long-term Scientific and Technological Development (2006-2020).”
In this project, a high-resolution earth observing system based on satellites, airships of stratosphere and aircrafts will be designed and constructed as a whole, making China have the ability of observing the entire surface of the earth in all weathers and around-the-clock. Currently, the research and experiment tasks of various systems are being carried out smoothly.
According to sources, after the system is complete, it will be able to provide information services and decision supports for many areas of China, including the modern agriculture, disaster prevention and relief, resources, environment and public security. It will also meet many requirements from China's economic construction and social development.
Starting from 2013, China will develop and launch a series of new-model earth observing satellites and put them into use. It plans to complete the construction of a high-resolution earth observing system by around 2020.
The project of constructing a high-resolution earth observing system, approved and started in May of 2010, is one of the 16 major special projects set by the “Outline of National Program for Medium and Long-term Scientific and Technological Development (2006-2020).”
In this project, a high-resolution earth observing system based on satellites, airships of stratosphere and aircrafts will be designed and constructed as a whole, making China have the ability of observing the entire surface of the earth in all weathers and around-the-clock. Currently, the research and experiment tasks of various systems are being carried out smoothly.
According to sources, after the system is complete, it will be able to provide information services and decision supports for many areas of China, including the modern agriculture, disaster prevention and relief, resources, environment and public security. It will also meet many requirements from China's economic construction and social development.
escobar
Brigadier
Re: Chinese Satellites
A meeting was held on March 19, 2012 in Jiuquan of western China’s Gansu province to celebrate that the Anxi measuring station of a base under the General Armaments Department (GAD) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was awarded a first-class merit by the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People’s Republic of China.
At the meeting, a general order signed by Hu Jintao, chairman of the CMC, was read out and a certificate of merit was also awarded.
The Anxi measuring station is located in the Gobi desert with hash natural environment and shoulders important tasks of tracking and measuring the satellite and “Shenzhou” spaceship launching. Since its establishment, the station has successfully accomplished the tracking and measuring tasks of 8 “Shenzhou” spaceships and 15 satellites.
A meeting was held on March 19, 2012 in Jiuquan of western China’s Gansu province to celebrate that the Anxi measuring station of a base under the General Armaments Department (GAD) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was awarded a first-class merit by the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People’s Republic of China.
At the meeting, a general order signed by Hu Jintao, chairman of the CMC, was read out and a certificate of merit was also awarded.
The Anxi measuring station is located in the Gobi desert with hash natural environment and shoulders important tasks of tracking and measuring the satellite and “Shenzhou” spaceship launching. Since its establishment, the station has successfully accomplished the tracking and measuring tasks of 8 “Shenzhou” spaceships and 15 satellites.
escobar
Brigadier
Re: Chinese Satellites
On March 19, the in-orbit delivery ceremony of Nigerian communications satellite 1R, or NigComSat 1R, was held in the satellite ground station nearby Abuja, Nigeria.
This is the first communications satellite owned by Nigeria
The NigComSat 1R was an alternative satellite rebuilt by China for Nigeria, said Yin Liming, president of the China Great Wall Industry Corporation in his speech. With 28 transponders and seven antennas, Ku Kashi beam was added to the satellite in addition to the band C, L, Ku and Ka, which can provide commercial communications services for the continents of Asia and Africa at the same time, enjoying bright commercial operation prospects.
China fulfilled its commitment with practical actions
The NigComSat 1R was sent into space by the Long March III B rocket on Dec 20, 2011. The satellite has orbited in space for more than three months. The in-orbit test phase has been completed. Its condition is stable, according to the engineering and technical manager of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited.
A peddler selling telephone cards on the street of Abuja said that Nigeria’s satellite was launched by China. Since Nigeria has its own satellite, it no longer needs to pay big bucks to rent satellites of other countries, which can reduce the communications costs to some extent and common people will benefit from that. He said “The Nigerians like China because China not only has high technology, but also produce all kinds of affordable but exquisite goods. China has really helped Africa a lot”.
Follow-up cooperation projects promoted stably
The operation of NigComSat 1R will improve Nigeria’s national infrastructures and meet Nigeria’s demands in communications, broadcasting, broadband multimedia, navigation services, real-time audio and video security surveillance and distance education, according to the marketing manager of the Nigerian Communications Limited.
It is reported that the Nigerian communication satellite will provide Nigerians with more than 150,000 communications-related employment opportunities. It is estimated that the efficient two-way satellite will save over 95 million U.S. dollars for Nigerian broadband users every year, and save more than 660 million U.S. dollars of telephone relay and data exchange business fees for African users.
On March 19, the in-orbit delivery ceremony of Nigerian communications satellite 1R, or NigComSat 1R, was held in the satellite ground station nearby Abuja, Nigeria.
This is the first communications satellite owned by Nigeria
The NigComSat 1R was an alternative satellite rebuilt by China for Nigeria, said Yin Liming, president of the China Great Wall Industry Corporation in his speech. With 28 transponders and seven antennas, Ku Kashi beam was added to the satellite in addition to the band C, L, Ku and Ka, which can provide commercial communications services for the continents of Asia and Africa at the same time, enjoying bright commercial operation prospects.
China fulfilled its commitment with practical actions
The NigComSat 1R was sent into space by the Long March III B rocket on Dec 20, 2011. The satellite has orbited in space for more than three months. The in-orbit test phase has been completed. Its condition is stable, according to the engineering and technical manager of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited.
A peddler selling telephone cards on the street of Abuja said that Nigeria’s satellite was launched by China. Since Nigeria has its own satellite, it no longer needs to pay big bucks to rent satellites of other countries, which can reduce the communications costs to some extent and common people will benefit from that. He said “The Nigerians like China because China not only has high technology, but also produce all kinds of affordable but exquisite goods. China has really helped Africa a lot”.
Follow-up cooperation projects promoted stably
The operation of NigComSat 1R will improve Nigeria’s national infrastructures and meet Nigeria’s demands in communications, broadcasting, broadband multimedia, navigation services, real-time audio and video security surveillance and distance education, according to the marketing manager of the Nigerian Communications Limited.
It is reported that the Nigerian communication satellite will provide Nigerians with more than 150,000 communications-related employment opportunities. It is estimated that the efficient two-way satellite will save over 95 million U.S. dollars for Nigerian broadband users every year, and save more than 660 million U.S. dollars of telephone relay and data exchange business fees for African users.
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