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Nigeria launching space program
(old news - 12:14AM Friday Jul 06 2001)
Nigeria, one of the world's poorest countries, is to launch its own space program in the form of an agency that will develop rocket and satellite technology, Transport Minister Ojo Madueke announced on Wednesday. He said the government had allocated three billion naira ($2.7 million) for the program and that the agency will receive 2.5 billion naira ($2.2 million) annually in the next three years with the aim of becoming self-financing. Although Nigeria is the world's sixth largest oil exporter, it has an external debt of $28.5 billion, according to government figures, and is struggling to provide its citizens with roads, education and basic health services. Read More HERE!
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ScottMo
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-15
Stony Brook, NY
| Unreal This has to be some sort of scam. Nigeria has one of the poorest records on controlling government/private sector fraud, I wouldn't doubt this is some money making scheme for someone.
BTW, it doesn't seem like 9 million is enough to get a space program off the ground.
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Alea iacta est - The die is cast | |
|  | raven45$
Premium
join:2001-02-13
Pennsylvania
| Re: Unreal said by ScottMo:
This has to be some sort of scam.
Ya know, ScottMo, that's the first thing I thought. Start some Mickey Mouse space program and then beg money off the First World Nations, so some officials can fill their pockets. If it's obvious to us, then you know Washington will never catch on to the scam. 
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Unless you're the lead dog, the scenery never changes.
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FutureMon
OW My Eyes
Premium,ExMod 2002-05
join:2000-10-05
Colorado Springs, CO
clubs:  | Re: Unreal Sheesh. I read a news article - two guys at the top are going to pocket millions of that cash in salaries alone.
- FM | |
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ScottMo
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-15
Stony Brook, NY
| Did anyone see the movie "The Mouse That Roared"? There was a sequel "Mouse on the Moon" where the small country of Fenwick tries to get aid from big countries by pretending to start a space program. Instead of a half-million dollar loan that Fenwick wanted (this was in the late 1960's), it got a million dollars from the US & a rocket from Russia. Then they actually make it to the moon ahead of both countries.
Perhaps old 1960s movies are in vogue in Nigeria? | |
| | | raven45$
Premium
join:2001-02-13
Pennsylvania | Re: Unreal Both those movies were really funny. Haven't seen them in years. | |
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ScottMo
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-15
Stony Brook, NY
| According to this link:
»www.smad.com/scorpius/press3.html
Microcosm, Inc. of Torrance, CA is developing a low-cost rocket that will cut launch cost.
A light-duty rocket (2,200 pound payload) will cost $1.8 million to launch, a medium-duty rocket (15,000 lbs) may cost around $8.5 million.
These costs are supposedly one-tenth the current launch cost. Which would make the cheapest launch $18 million, or twice what Nigeria has allocated to the project. | |
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