In November 2006, NASRDA (National Space Research and Development Agency) of Abuja, Nigeria awarded a contract to SSTL (Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.) of Guildford, UK, to develop and build NigeriaSat-2, including the related ground infrastructure and image processing facilities, together with an extensive training program to further develop an indigenous space capability in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. NASRDA is an agency under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology of Nigeria established in 1999. The objective of the NigeriaSat-2 mission is to provide high-resolution (Pan and MS) imagery in a swath width of 20 km. In addition, the spacecraft also carries a DMC continuity payload to provide observation continuity with NigeriaSat-1, launched in September 2003. - The imagery of both spacecraft will serve as a catalyst to the development of Nigeria's NGDI (National Geospatial Data Infrastructure) program. NASRDA will facilitate efficient production, management, dissemination and use of geospatial information for the attainment of the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) and the 7-Point Agenda of the Nigerian Government. NigeriaSat-2 is a minisatellite of about 300 kg (the actual launch mass is 286 kg), based upon the new generation of high resolution Earth observation satellites. NigeriaSat-2 was launched on August 17, 2011 on a Dnepr-1 launch vehicle using the SHM (Space Head Module) configuration from the Yasny/Dombarovsky launch site located in the Orenburg Region, Russia.
Instruments: Medium Resolution Imager (MRI) Very High Resolution Imager (VHRI)
Supporting Nigeria's food supply security, agricultural and geology applications, mapping and security applications, development of the national GIS infrastructure as well as providing continuity and compatibility with the existing NigeriaSat-1 system
