NigeriaSat-2 – The high-performance small satellite programme at the service of Nigeria

Paper number

IAC-08.B4.1.5

Author

Mr. Andrew Cawthorne, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom

Coauthor

Mr. Abdul Lawal, NASRDA, Nigeria

Coauthor

Dr. Andrew Carrel, SSTL, United Kingdom

Coauthor

Prof. Martin Sweeting, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, United Kingdom

Year

2008

Abstract

NASRDA, the Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency, has commissioned its first operational high-performance Earth Observation system.  The system is a turnkey solution, comprising space segment, ground segment and image processing facilities, together with an extensive training programme.  The satellite design is concluded and assembly has commenced in SSTL’s clean rooms in the UK.  Launch is currently scheduled for 2009.  On launch the mission will become one of the World’s most capable satellites in its class and will continue the demonstration that high performance missions are possible with small satellites.

This paper will emphasise the needs of Nigeria which SSTL is aiming to meet with a mission of this type. The SSTL-300 platform which forms the basis of the NigeriaSat-2 mission is a new development for SSTL, which takes a number of heritage subsystems, and reconfigures them with a high performance payload structure and attitude control system. The paper will particularly highlight the mission performance parameters such as image throughput and ground coverage rate, which enable the primary Nigerian objectives of regularly covering the country at both medium and high resolution to be met.  The paper will also underscore the versatility of the platform by highlighting the extensive modes of operation that are possible, and the variety of applications that these enable for the end customer.

Finally included in the paper will be a discussion on the advanced attitude and orbit control sub-system, which provides both high stability during imaging as well as high agility and a fast slew capability to transition between imaging opportunities.  This discussion will also draw attention to the disaster monitoring applications that are enabled as a result of this new, cost effective small spacecraft capability.

Abstract document

IAC-08.B4.1.5.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.B4.1.5.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.