China launches first commercial satellite to foreign buyer: Nigeria

William Atkins
Monday, 14 May 2007 20:24

Science - Space

Specifically, the customer was the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited, a company under the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Science Technology.

China provided the satellite and the launch facility. Nigeria bought the Chinese-made Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT-1), which was launched by a Chinese Long March 3-B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan province. The satellite will provide cell phone and Internet services to central Africa.

Specifically, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation made the satellite. China will monitor the satellite through its Great Wall Industry Corporation.

China has signed agreements to send about thirty foreign satellites into space using its launch facilities.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is a civilian agency of the government of the People’s Republic of China. It is responsible for establishing and implementing national space policy.

The English version of the Web site of the China National Space Administration is: http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n615709/cindex.html.

The home website of NIGCOMSAT is: http://www.nigcomsat.org/.