[Satellite TODAY 06-07-11] Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) will launch two satellites into the orbit by the end of June, NASRDA officials announced June 6.

    NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X will act as follow-ups and complementing spacecraft to NigeriaSat-1, which was launched in 2003. Both high-resolution satellites are designed for seven years and can produce imagery locally and internationally, the agency said.

    At a press conference, NASRDA Head of Corporate Affairs Felix Ale said the satellites’ mission is to provide a high-resolution map of Nigeria once every four months. “The satellites would support the National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI) program of the government by providing high quality data and enhance human resources in the use of satellite data.”