National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has announced it would commercialise imageries from its two orbit satellites beginning June.
According to NASRDA, over 150 imageries from NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X satellites have since been downloaded, tested and proved to be of high standard, and are now ready for use across the world.
Speaking during a visit by members of the Space Engineering Division (SED), an arm of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), NARSDA ‘s director general Seidu Mohammed said the Abuja-based agency had already identified local and international firms as well as software developers interested in the imageries, some of them having already signed agreements with the agency.
Mohammed pledged it would assist Nigeria develop global software and NASRDA with various universities in Nigeria.
NASRDA would use the satellite data to validate ground measurement, address the alarming lead poisoning in the Northern part of Nigeria, identify mosquito breeding water bodies to eradicate malaria infections and handle the issue of deforestation and track erosion information in the South West and South East parts of Nigeria.
SED’s chairman Michael Ogbonna Agu said the space industry had become a key component in the development of any nation and urged tap in into the contribution of space science and technology towards socio-economic development.
According to him, the NASRDA and the SED partnership is a train essential for achieving the country’s space roadmap and Vision 20:2020.
Otis Anyaeji, Deputy President of NSE, urged for continued cooperation between the engineers’ society and NASRD saying the visit was to find out their competence and performances on air space crafts and related tasks.
NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X satellites were successfully launched onboard a Dnepr rocket from Yasny in southern Russia on August 17, 2011 to boost African capabilities for natural resource management and aid disaster relief through Disaster Monitoring Constellation.
NASRDA was established in 1999 to pursue the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefits of Nigeria.
