Nigeria EduSat-1
| Mission type | Earth Observation |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1998-067[1] |
| Mission duration | 18 months |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 1U CubeSat |
| Launch mass | 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 3 June 2017, 21:07:38 UTC |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 FT, CRS-11 |
| Launch site | Kennedy LC-39A |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| Entered service | 7 July 2017 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Inclination | 51.61 degrees[2] |
| Period | 92 minutes[2] |
| Epoch | 7 July 2017 |
Nigeria EduSat1 is Nigeria's first satellite built by a university, created in conjunction with the Japanese Birds-1 program. The satellite was built by the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). It was launched from the Japanese Kibo module of the International Space Station.[3]
Background
Japan supports non-spacefaring countries to build their first satellite through a program called The Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite project (BIRDS). Five countries participated in the first Bird program: Ghana, Mongolia, Nigeria, and Bangladesh.[1] Nigeria EduSat-1 is the first satellite built by a Nigerian university.[4]
Development
The satellite was designed and built by the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). The university partnered with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).[5]
Mission
Launch
The launch was planned for June 1, 2017, but was postponed due to poor weather conditions.[6] SpaceX launched the satellite on its CRS-11 mission to the International Space Station on June 3, 2017. It was carried in a Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket, launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A, the 100th launch from that pad. This was the first time SpaceX had reused one of its Dragon capsules.[7]
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 91 minutes at a velocity of 7.67 kilometres per second (17,200 mph)[2][8]
Operations
The satellite communicates with seven ground stations: one in each of the countries participating in the Bird 1 program, and one each in Thailand and Taiwan.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 "Bird B, BTN, G, J, M, MYS, N, PHL (BRAC Onnesha, GhanaSat 1, Toki, Mazaalai, Nigeria EduSat 1)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- 1 2 3 "President Akufo-Addo congratulates All Nations University for Ghanasat-1 Satellite". Ghana News Agency. July 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Nigeria: Edusat-1 Satellite Goes Into Orbit Today". All Africa. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "FUTA sets Nigerian record, to launch satellite into space". Premium Times. May 30, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ↑ "FUTA to launch satellite into space for Nigerian socio-economy development". NAIJ.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Nigeria's First University Smallsat Heads to ISS Aboard SpaceX Dragon". satnews. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ↑ Clark, Stephen (June 3, 2017). "Reused Dragon cargo capsule launched on journey to space station". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ↑ Babatunde, Mark (July 11, 2017). "Ghanaian Engineers Launch Ghanasat-1, Join Space Race". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved July 24, 2017.