Space

Look Out! Nigerian Satellite on Chinese Rocket Coming Through

China is becoming the third space superpower

By Lucian Dorneanu, Science Editor

14th of May 2007, 13:59 GMT

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Nigerian satellite ready at Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Monday May 14, 2007

Once again, China has proved that it's a force not to be taken lightly. Sure, it's a communist country, but who cares. We all have some piece of electronics with the nice Made in China label that we all know and "love."

Last month, they shot down one of their own satellites with a missile launched from Earth. Now, they launched a new satellite. Only it's not theirs. The Chinese rocket blasted a Nigerian communications satellite into orbit, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The official Xinhua News Agency announced it was for the first time that a Chinese satellite was purchased by a foreign country, who also bought the launching service. (Doh! - they were not going to launch it themselves, with a slingshot...)

It seems the famous "cooperation between nations" communist slogan is really working for them, as the launch actually coincides with the opening of the African Development Bank's annual board meeting in Shanghai this week, reflecting growing African-Chinese ties.

The Nigerian Communication Satellite, or NIGCOMSAT-1 (I wonder what the initials stand for...how original) was launched by a Long March 3-B rocket (massive military retreat undertaken by the Red Armies of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army, to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist Party) army.)

The affair is part of Nigeria's $311 million agreement signed with China in 2004. They will use the satellite to expand cellphone and Internet coverage in central Africa.

Another official statement coming from the (only) Chinese press agency, Xinhua, states that the launch represents: "China's wish to cooperate with developing countries in the peaceful use of outer space and to promote a closer relationship between China and African countries."

In the future, China plans to send some 30 foreign satellites into space and has already signed a number of contracts for commercial launching services for foreign satellites, including one with Venezuela.

TAGS:

satellite | space | rocket | launch

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