While it is public knowledge that Nigeria has a functional and reputable space agency ‘the National Space Research and Development Agency’ (NASRDA), not many are aware that the country’s rocket propulsion technology remains unmatched on the African continent.
The country’s technological advancement on rocket propulsion systems places it above its counterparts in Africa, as far as the space race is concerned.
As early as 1961, the Nigerian government began showing propitious interest in space research and technology, when it played a crucial role in manned space travel, housing a $3 million NASA space station in Kano, North-West Nigeria. The space station was part of a NASA satellite tracking stations system strategically located along the earth’s orbital track, under Project Mercury to test the viability of human space travel.
On August 23rd 1963, the first ever phone call relayed by satellite (via the Syncom Communications Satellite) between two heads of State was made by John F. Kennedy to Nigeria’s first republic Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. The phone call was part of a ceremony formally inaugurating service by the new Syncom II satellite launched July 26. Both Leaders discussed the result of peaceful space exploration, Dick Tiger’s WBA title victory over Gene Fullmer and the nuclear test ban treaty of 1963 prohibiting nuclear weapons explosion in the atmosphere, outer space, and under water.
However, it was not until 1999 that the most populous black Nation established its first national space agency, NASRDA.
In 2002, NASRDA revealed its 25-year road map for the research, development and launch of Nigerian made satellites from Nigerian soil by 2030, starting from 2005. Many Nigerians on social media think this is a pipe dream but with the tenacity and enthusiasm of engineers at the Centre for Space Transport and Propulsion (CSTP) and their research breakthroughs, NASRDA appears very optimistic with its 2030 goal.
CSTP was established in 2003, with a vision to develop and construct rockets that will be needed to launch Nigerian made satellites by 2030.
CSTP’s core roles in NASRDA’s 25-year strategic roadmap is to acquire launch capabilities of various satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO), and interplanetary space, by Nigerian scientists and engineers.
The Centre is further saddled with strategic mandates which include to acquire and establish adequate high-tech infrastructure in the country, facilitate the acquisition of scientific and technological know-how in aerospace transport and propulsion, to develop various types of propellants for rocket engines with attention on solid, liquid, and other forms of high-energy propulsion systems to acquire and develop the capacity to fabricate and integrate rocket systems for short, and long-range peaceful application missions and most importantly- to develop and construct rockets that will be needed to launch Nigerian made satellites by 2030. So far, the Centre has recorded notable success in this regard.
By 2019, CSTP had launched over 30 experimental rockets, with tremendous progress on structural wholeness and rocket instrumentation system. The Centre for Space Transport and Propulsion, CSTP has proven itself to be the most active of the six activity Centres of NASRDA.
The others being the Centre for Atmospheric Research, Centre for Basic Space Science, Centre for Geodesy and Geodynamics, Centre for Space Science and Technology Education, Centre for Satellite Technology Development, and the National Centre for Remote Sensing.
Before 2019, the farthest CSTP test rocket still had a record altitude of less than 10 kilometre but it appears the Centre is not sleeping on its achievements yet. Records from test rockets post 2019 are not available to the public but there are speculations that recent data on technological successes at the Centre have been deliberately redacted by the Nigerian government.
This is not unconnected with the worrisome spate of insecurity that has plagued parts of the country for roughly a decade. A fear of missiles and tech secrets ending up in the wrong hands might be the reason for the government’s fear.
Between April and June 2019, CSTP successfully launched three test rockets – CSTP_TL_1, CSTP_TL_2 and CSTP_TL_3. The test launches demonstrated the Centre’s education on efficient solid propellants and the integrity of its new rocket recovery system. Evidence from academic publications of CSTP researchers suggest advancement in guidance, navigation and control concepts, improved rocket thrust and longer burn time.
Despite the tremendous successes recorded by NASDRA’s CSTP, the Centre’s efforts remain greatly affected by inadequate government funding. CSTP’s test rockets are still away from the minimum 160km altitude for Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
However, with increased funding and private sector participation NASRDA might reach the Ionosphere sooner than we expect.
source: dailytrust
