Recently, the revolution in the world’s weather condition has caused a lot of changes in the atmosphere of orbit, which has led to satellite failures most especially in 2008. This development has caused a lot of worry in the satellite industry which experts attribute to weather, gravitational pulls, uncertainty in the space environment and many others. The latest casualty is Astra 5A, a communication satellite operated by Swiss Space Corporation (SSC) and SES Astra which suffered ‘technical anomaly’ on 20 January, 2009.
Astra 5A was built by one of the world’s best satellite manufacturers, Thales Alenia of Italy. Presently, an investigation is on by a technical team from Thales Alenia, SSC and SES to unravel the cause and to initiate a possible safety action. The satellite was positioned at orbital slot of 31.5 degree east. The spacecraft has operated for nearly eleven years until 22 October when it experienced a lost control but was recovered fifteen days later (November, 2008). With just a year and few months to complete its mission in space, the unexpected happened putting it to final rest.
Other spacecrafts have experienced these similar situations. A cursory look revealed that EchoStar-2 satellite with orbital location at 119 degrees West longitude built at the cost of $250m including construction, launch, and launch insurance, had a power system failure and experienced a total loss in July last year. In the fleet of EchoStar are EchoStar-3 located at 61.5 degree east, EchoStar-5 orbiting at 110 degree east while it future satellite which it has already secured an orbital slot located at 148 degree east will be orbiting soon. These mechanisms are put in place to address the uncertainties in the orbit.
Also Kazsat-1 in October regained a twelve hour outage which service was later restored. There were many others that suffered the same fate but could not be recovered. For Echostar-2, it was a total loss due to power failure. This means that there was no hope of recovery for this at all like NigComSat-1. Eutelsat- W5 reputed to be amongst the best operated satellite in the world also lost one of its two solar arrays owing to motor malfunction.
A chronology of satellite failures has revealed that KoreaSat-5 also lost power for than twelve hours, but service was restored afterward. It is the fifth satellite in the fleets of Korean satellite operators. Already the Korean government has concluded plans for the launch of KoreaSat-6 to be built by Arianspace in the second half of 2010. Korean space agency press release last year revealed that the Arianspace has another Korean satellite on its launch manifest, COMS-1, a multi-mission satellite for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KAR).
Meanwhile, NigComSat-1 which was launched on 13 May, 2007 was put on a safe mode after a power failure which occurred on November 8, 2008 forcing the operators to terminate its mission to avoid colossal damage to other satellites in the orbit.
Though different ‘experts’ have spoken on the otherwise viability of the bird in the sky, however, considering the benefits derivable from it, which in recent time has overwhelmed many of us, it is a venture worthwhile. The telecom industry is now a major revenue earner after oil, it is pertinent therefore at this point to draw the attention of policy makers to distinguish between politics and mere rhetoric. The saying that charity begins at home must start with us. We have observed with dismay when a Middle East satellite operator was accorded the privilege of obtaining a licence to venture into the downstream, an issue which has generated heated argument between NIGCOMSAT Ltd and the regulators on the propriety of it and in defiance of a presidential directives to that effect.
Meanwhile some schools of thoughts also believed that with the enormity of infrastructural inadequacy in the country, going into space is a luxury for Nigeria. But the telephones couldn’t be as effective as they are today if not for a major project like the communications satellite. The Direct-to-Home pay TV will not be possible in the comfort of our homes without the satellite. The number of football followers which has blossomed recently most especially followers of foreign clubs, is made possible because of communications satellite beaming to our various homes. If a census of pay TV is to be carried out, it will be amazing to realize the number of pay TVs subscription especially in our rural communities competing with those in the urban cities because of the love for the round leather, all these are made possible by the bird in the sky.
The tele-medicine project aimed at reaching the vast majority of our sick rural populace to address the issue of health will not be realistic if our own satellite capacity continues to elude us. Even the internet which is one of the convenient ways of connecting people to the world as a global village will not be feasible.
Considering the huge capital flight from Africa and Nigeria in particular for purchase of bandwidths, our own satellite capacity is a most. It is rather ridiculous that in a jet age some Nigerians still don’t have enough fate in Nigeria to successfully run a satellite company or go to space.
Taking a cue from Astra 5A, immediately the spacecraft mission was declared ended by the unfortunate circumstance; customers including a German cable operator on the satellite were transferred to another SES Astra satellite located at 23.5 degree east. This was in contrast to NIGCOMSAT Ltd quest for more satellites (2 and 3) in the event of such calamity to enable it also do same by transferring its customers conveniently and quietly to the redundant ones which was rebuff by those believed to understand the satellite business better. The authorities of NigComSat Ltd were rather left with the option to buy capacity from other satellite service providers to meet with customers’ demand. This again placed it at a very difficult and disadvantage position because the revenue which could have accrued to it from the sales of bandwidths and transponders will not be feasible immediately because the company is now forced to source for money to maintain the existing customers on its transponders before replacement or most of its customers will look elsewhere to maintain their businesses. The comparative advantage with its competitors is further deepened as the market will be available for satellites operators with backups in the orbit as they make their ways into the Nigerian telecom market.
Proponents against the take off of NigComSat-2 and 3 to serve as a backup insisted that the capacity on NigComSat-1 must be fully utilized or exhausted not minding the possibility of failure or the harsh space environment. NigComSat-1 unlike Astra 5A with fleets of satellites will do much to address the inconveniences of settling its customers on other satellites. Astra 5A was obviously more prepared and understood the benefits than the government of Nigeria. This is exactly what Nigerians need to know most especially from space experts and not mere expression of sentiments.
As China prepares to replace the failed satellite (NigComSat-1R), it is pertinent for Nigerians to give very strong support to the realization of this laudable project. Federal government on its part must remain resolute most especially in the pursuit of the seven point’s agenda to facilitate the quick endorsement of the NigComSat 2 and 3 because this will expand our technological revolution. From the analysis above, it is crystal clear that the satellite adventure is a serious business and one satellite alone cannot give adequate guarantee in this respect not to even talk of global coverage. Since Nigeria is on the verge of divesting its revenue generation from the oil, the telecom sector remains a viable alternative. The rat race for orbital slots is high and Nigeria cannot afford to lack behind. Nigeria’s presence is required not only to save it from embarrassment of lacking behind in the technological order but African continent from the clouts of the western dominance in the space industry.
The senate misgiving about China’s capacity to handle NigComSat-2 &3, though genuine as it may sound, it is my strong conviction that management of NIGCOMSAT Ltd will give a thorough consideration to an open bidding to consider the best capable hands. However, from the analysis above, even satellites manufactured from the so call best hands have failed at one point or the other. Our prayers should be to have a satellite that will serve the country and the continent well.
My recent encounter at the Lagos Business School has revealed a lot to me. I was taken aback when a staff of Chevron mentioned to me how the company was greatly affected when NigComSat-1 crashed. Also the recent strike embarked upon by staff of NITEL and the subsequent shut down of SAT 3 which is presently giving cause for concern to both internet users and the effect on poor quality of telecomm services is an eye opener for Nigerians to give the desired supp
NigComSat-1R, Still an Opportunity to Explore
