Posted
5/20/2007 12:18:00 PM
by Douglas
Two words in this story that kinda surprised me for a second:
Nigerian Satellite.China has successfully launched a communications satellite for Nigeria.
The official Xinhua news agency says it is the first time that a foreign buyer has purchased both a Chinese satellite and its launching service.
The Nigerian Communication Satellite NIGCOMSAT-1 is expected to offer broadcasting, phone and broadband internet services for Africa.
China beat 21 other bidders in 2004 for the $311m contract to launch the satellite, Xinhua says.
Hey, American companies that used to corner the market on global launch services;
wake up!China is expanding its space programme, and in 2003 became only the third country to launch a man into space.
This is one of 30 foreign satellites China has been commissioned to launch, Xinhua reports.
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin is making a lot of money blowing up people over large distances.