The launch of NigeriaSat-2 (N-2) and NigeriaSat-X (N-X)
17.08.2011 
The launch of NigeriaSat-2 (N-2) and NigeriaSat-X (N-X) on August 17th marks yet another success for the CST Moscow office team.It brings the number of small satellites of up to 400kg for which CST has brokered and managed the launches to 26 (not counting cubesats), with no launch or contractual failures. This recent accomplishment follows on from a series of previous CST successes for other African nations, including:-
1. November 28th 2002, Alsat (Algeria)
2. September 27th 2003, NigeriaSat-1 (Nigeria)
3. September 17th 2009, SumbadillaSat (South Africa)
4. August 17th 2011, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X (Nigeria)
The recent flight commenced from Yasny, southern Russia, onboard the Denpr launch vehicle, which placed the satellites precisely in their intended 700km sun-synchronous orbits. With a design based on SSTL’s latest 300 platform, the N-2 craft boasts exceptionally high resolution imaging at 2.5m black and white and 5m colour. This follows on from the success of an earlier earth observation satellite, NigeriaSat-1, which was also designed and manufactured by SSTL. Meanwhile the N-X, utilising SSTL’s 100 platform was built by 26 Nigerian engineers, in concordance with an SSTL training and development programme, as part of their cooperation with Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Thanks to the efforts of all involved, including NASRDA, SSTL, Kosmotras and Roscosmos, the people of Nigeria will undoubtedly feel the benefits of improved food security (via monthly crop monitoring) and urban planning, provided by their recently acquired remote sensing technologies.
Date: 2011 (August 17)
Rocket: Dnepr (2 in cluster)
Satellites Launched: NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X
