Chinese Manufacturer Confirms NigComSat Failure
By Staff Writer | November 12, 2008
[Satellite Today 11-12-08] China Great Wall Industry Corp. confirmed Nov. 12 that the NigComSat-1 spacecraft was suffering power problems due to a technical problems with the satellite’s solar panels.
The statement was issued after press reports that operator Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd. (Nigcomsat) has lost contact with the satellite. Nigcomsat denied allegations that the satellite was missing in orbit and said the spacecraft was powered down after the technical problems were identified Nov. 9.
NigComSat 1, built at a cost of about $450 million, was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in May 2007.