How does terrestrial power failure figure into orbiting solar powered satellites?

dOnly in Nigeria! That's right, the first Nigerian communication satellite, with the acronym NIGCOMSAT-1, has failed after only one of its projected lifespan of 15 years.

I am surprised to hear that this was the 'first' satellite launched by Nigeria. I recall an earlier one done before 2007 and given a lifespan definitely below 15 years during Obasanjo's unprobed profligacy.

Or should that have been un-probed profligate legacy? If you ask me, I think the revelations about hidden properties in his first wife's - Chief Oluremi Obasanjo, mother of Iyabo, Segun, Gbenga and siblings - recent book is enough to get the EFCC barking up his backside, all things being equal.

Someone I know put it very well into the proper Nigerian context by asking, "Who will arrest him?" Indeed, who will 'bail' the cat that does that noble deed on our collective behalf?

Anyway, twenty percent is a failure in any examination. Why was a Chinese company chosen for the $US311 million despite common knowledge about untoward Chinese business practices?

Such as the following observation obtained from here:

"....The exchange between China and African nations is growing increasingly asymmetric, and African nations are torn between the tremendous acceleration spurred by Chinese investment, and their disapproval of certain Chinese business practices and China's undisguised economic aggressiveness.

China has reacted to criticism by pursuing soft-power appeasements, while continuing to buy in on large-scale infrastructural projects. China's policy of non-interference and its tolerance for corruption and political risk remain attractive to many African governments. "

Well, the following may be another appropriate answer to that query: [....Western nations have displayed particular hesitance to assist Africa's telecom growth. In the case of the NigComSat-1 contract, China was the only nation to make a bid on time, on budget, and up to the Nigerian government's desired standards.....]


Since the solar panel power failure happened in space during orbit, and not because of terrestrial power failure due to the old NEPA or the new PHCN, some thorny issues outlined here just must be answered by the government....

For example, does the statement, '....satellite fully insured....', mean that the Chinese company will launch a replacement free of charge or will the insurance company foot the huge replacement bill?

I seriously doubt that the Nigerian agency in charge paid the full insurance premium for the second year of operation on time....


UPDATE on Monday, November 17, 2008 @ 8:40 PM:

The really unbelievable thing about this failed satellite is that the immediate ex-president and his telecommunications team got the idea for this bogus scheme from the fact that about $90 million per annum was being paid by Nigerian organizations and individuals for Internet access to foreign businesses.

So, that government decided to corner the domestic Internet access business by spending $311 million to give Internet access to up to 70% of the domestic industry, with an out especially for government establishments and the educational sector.

The ultimate aim was for the federal government then to make up to $500 million from its citizens by getting into the 'business'.

Now it has all unraveled and that wasted sum could, for example, have gone a long way in improving the deplorable road network to the South-East of the country - especially the second bridge across and over the River Niger.