The Staff of the Defence Space Administration (DSA) were treated to very educative sessions during the monthly seminar hosted by the Directorate of Communication Satellite at the General Irabor Multipurpose Hall on 30th November 2023 with the theme: Communication Satellite and payload Management. The Chief of Defence Space Administration (CDSA) AVM AA Shinkafi in his remarks stated that it was an excellent performance. Additionally, the CDSA said that in making efforts to align himself to the policies established by his predecessors, has ensured a seamless integration in DSA. AVM Shinkafi, admonished staff of the Administration to endeavour to use images from our own local media and country in presentations, this he said could promote the continent more rather than using foreign images which rather promotes foreign world and culture. Furthermore, the CDSA stated that nomenclature is very important in communicating research findings, and presenting findings, which can go into publication. This he said is communicated during the recommendations, findings and what the researcher wants to improve upon.
The Director of Communication Satellite, Brigadier General ES Mustapha (DCS) in his opening remarks appreciated the Chief of Defence Space Administration (CDSA) AVM AA Shinkafi for the benefits given to the Directorates of DSA to make research and deliver seminars monthly towards the development of capacity building amongst staff of DSA. The DCS reiterated that Space technology has contributed substantially to enhance communication services, this he said was made possible with the advent and evolution of communication satellite whose functionality are largely dependent on the type of payloads and its management. Consequently, the DCS in his words said; suffice to say that the topic of the seminar is timely, as DSA in liaison with NigComSat are making efforts to host military grade transponders on the NigComSat 2 Satellite projected to be launched in 2026. Brigadier General Mustapha said that the transponders if managed effectively could enable the Administration to deliver fast, reliable and efficient communication support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The facilitator, Engineer Nasiru Musa, a Senior Civilian staff with the Directorate of communication Satellite, excellently delivered the seminar paper titled: Communication Satellite and payload Management. The paper covered the following; the overview of communication satellite, concept of communication Satellite payload, functions of a transponder, principles of operation of a satellite transponder, factors affecting transponder management as well as techniques that could be put in place to mitigate the challenges of communication satellite and payload management. The facilitator emphasized that with proper management of transponders and payloads, the core mandate of DCS which is the provision of fast, secure and reliable communication network between troops and formations of the AFN via a satellite could be achieved with ease.
The interactive session was made up of experts in the field of Communication Satellite which included the facilitator, key discussants; Dr Mohammad Alkali from the Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat), who emphasized that transponder management starts from paper to end of life, he reiterated that it is necessary to have all paper work and matters concerning maintenance fully tackled and ready to face challenges before launching a satellite. Others include Engineer Christian Oroge and Squadron Leader Ardo who also served as the moderator. They all contributed immensely to the seminar by sharing their wealth of knowledge and expertise on the topic.
Highlights of the Seminar include; the closing remarks delivered by the Director of Launch Services and Space Operations AVM OS Ogunsina, presentation of souvenir, vote of thanks delivered by Engineer Eneh Chioma Nkechinyere and finally a group photograph in front of the DSA Complex.
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