| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | NIGCOMSAT |
| COSPAR ID | 2007-018A |
| SATCAT no. | 31395 |
| Mission duration | Planned: 15 years Achieved: 18 months |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | DFH-4 |
| Manufacturer | CGWIC |
| Launch mass | 5,150 kilograms (11,350 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 13 May 2007, 16:01 UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 3B |
| Launch site | Xichang |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Failed |
| Last contact | 11 November 2008 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 42.5° East[1] |
| Perigee altitude | 35,782 kilometres (22,234 mi)[1] |
| Apogee altitude | 35,789 kilometres (22,238 mi)[1] |
| Inclination | 0.1 degrees[1] |
| Period | 24 hours |
NigComSat-1 was a Nigerian communication satellite. The initial contract to build the satellite was signed in 2004. It was launched in China by Nasrda and became the third African geosynchronous communication satellite, when it was launched at 16:01 UTC on 13 May 2007, aboard a Chinese Long March 3B carrier rocket, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China. The spacecraft was operated by Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT). On November 11, 2008, NigComSat-1 failed in orbit after running out of power due to an anomaly in its solar array.
- ^ a b c d Encyclopedia Astronautica - CZ-3B Archived 2008-03-19 at the Wayback Machine