Nigeria EduSat-1
| Names | Bird NN |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Technology demonstration Earth observation |
| Operator | Federal University of Technology Akure |
| COSPAR ID | 1998-067MY |
| SATCAT no. | 42824 |
| Mission duration | Planned: 18 months Elapsed: 84 months, 6 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 1U CubeSat |
| Launch mass | 1 kg (2.2 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | June 3, 2017, 21:07:38 UTC[1] |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 FT, CRS-11 |
| Launch site | Kennedy LC-39A |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| Entered service | July 7, 2017, 09:11 UTC |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Semi-major axis | 6,778.9 km (4,212.2 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0007634 |
| Perigee altitude | 395.6 km (245.8 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 405.9 km (252.2 mi) |
| Inclination | 51.6397° |
| Period | 92.57 minutes |
| Epoch | August 13, 2017, 02:44:19 UTC[2] |
Nigeria EduSat-1 is a satellite built by the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), created in conjunction with the Japanese Birds-1 program. It is Nigeria's first satellite built by a university. It was launched from the Japanese Kibō module of the International Space Station.[3]
Background
Japan supports non-spacefaring countries to build their first satellites through a program called The Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite project (Birds). Five countries constructed satellites in the first Birds program: Bangladesh, Ghana, Japan, Mongolia, and Nigeria.[4] Together, the five satellites make up the Birds-1 fleet. Nigeria EduSat-1 is the first satellite built by a Nigerian university.[5]
The project was supported by Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT) as part of the Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite project, which is a cross-border interdisciplinary satellite project for non-spacefaring countries supported by Japan. The university also partnered with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Abuja, and Nigeria. The five satellites built by the five different countries were all identical in their design.[6]
Development
The satellite was designed and built by the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). [7] It is equipped with 0.3 megapixel and 5 megapixel cameras, and with the rest of the satellite fleet, will take images of Nigeria. The satellite transmits songs and poems as an outreach project to generate Nigerian interest in science. The signal can be received by amateur radio operators. The satellite constellation is also measuring the atmospheric density 400 kilometres (250 mi) above the Earth.[8]
Mission
Launch
The launch was planned for June 1, 2017, but was postponed due to poor weather conditions.[9] SpaceX launched the satellite on its CRS-11 mission to the International Space Station on June 3, 2017. The satellite was carried in a Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket, launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A. This was the 100th launch from Pad 39A and the first time SpaceX reused one of its Dragon capsules.[1]
The satellite orbits the Earth at an altitude of 400 kilometres (250 mi) and at an inclination of 51.61 degrees. The satellite travels around the Earth every 92 minutes at a velocity of 7.67 kilometres per second (17,200 mph)[10][11]
Operations
The satellite communicates with seven ground stations: one in each of the countries participating in the Birds-1 program, and one each in Thailand and Taiwan.[4] The primary objective is for the satellite to be a technology demonstrator and to familiarize Nigerian students and scientists with satellite technology and manufacturing techniques.[5]
References
- ^ a b Clark, Stephen (June 3, 2017). "Reused Dragon cargo capsule launched on journey to space station". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on June 4, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Bird NN - Orbit". Heavens-Above. August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ "Nigeria: Edusat-1 Satellite Goes Into Orbit Today". All Africa. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ^ a b "Bird B, BTN, G, J, M, MYS, N, PHL (BRAC Onnesha, GhanaSat 1, Toki, Mazaalai, Nigeria EduSat 1)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Mongolia to send first satellite off to space on June 4". News Ghana. 5 June 2017. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "FUTA to launch satellite into space for Nigerian socio-economy development". NAIJ.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ^ Akingboye, Oluwaseun (July 7, 2017). "Edusat-1 satellite goes into orbit today". The Guardian. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ "Nigeria's First University Smallsat Heads to ISS Aboard SpaceX Dragon". satnews. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ "President Akufo-Addo congratulates All Nations University for Ghanasat-1 Satellite". Ghana News Agency. July 7, 2017.
- ^ Babatunde, Mark (July 11, 2017). "Ghanaian Engineers Launch Ghanasat-1, Join Space Race". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
External links