Wittig Lyon@ibn_wittig
I totally understand you but
Nigeria has a Space Program... and most people don’t even know how deep it goes.
From launching satellites to planning human spaceflight this thread will surprise you.
Nigeria runs its space missions through
National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). Established in 1999 and the goal was to put Nigeria on the global space map.
Nigeria built her first satellite NigeriaSat-1 (2003). Although built in the UK and launched from Russia.
But here’s the interesting part…NigeriaSat-1 wasn’t just for Nigeria. It joined the
Disaster Monitoring Constellation and helping monitor floods, wildfires, and disasters worldwide.
Nigeria is also a contributor to global space efforts.
Even despite challenges, Nigeria didn’t stop there.
More satellites followed:
NigeriaSat-2 (high-resolution imaging)
NigeriaSat-X (partly built by Nigerians )
NigComSat-1R (communications & internet)
Not everything went smoothly by the way
NigComSat-1 (2007) failed in orbit after about a year.
But instead of stopping we came back stronger.
In 2011, Nigeria launched NigComSat-1R, a replacement, better, improved system. That’s resilience most people don’t talk about.
Here’s something you may find wild though
Nigeria once planned to send an astronaut to space. Yes… a Nigerian in space.
(It didn’t happen but the ambition was REAL.)
So Nigeria is quietly using space tech daily:
Communication (TV, internet), Agriculture monitoring, Mapping & GPS, Urban planning, Security
You’re probably benefiting without realizing it.
Nigeria has satellites in space but doesn’t launch rockets (yet). Launches are done via Russia, China, etc.
Nigeria’s space story is just getting started.
And one day…
We might see 🇳🇬 launching rockets from its own soil. Maybe in our lifetime or not.