The Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the second African client for China’s satellite-launch services with Saturday’s signing of a contract to launch before the end of 2015 a satellite also to be developed by China.
The deal is China second satellite export to an African nation. The first was the NigComSat 1, a communications satellite launched for Nigeria in May 2007.
China has already launched 35 rockets carrying a total of 41 satellites for foreign clients. It has also provided seven piggyback launch services to foreign clients.
All of China’s satellite launch services are provided through the state-owned China Great Wall Industry Corp. The company began providing launch services to foreign clients in 1990. It uses the Long March 3 liquid-fuel rocket for its satellite launches.
In 2012 Great Wall has completed three launches for international clients, including the launch of VesselSat 2 for European space systems contractor LuxSpace and VRSS 1, a remote-sensing satellite for Venezuela. Two more international satellite launches are scheduled by the end of 2012.
The CongoSat 1 communications satellite will be developed and manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology for the National Network of Satellite Telecommunications of the African country. The contract was signed on the sidelines of the Ninth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone in southern Guangdong province.
The CongoSat 1 design will be based on the DFH 4 satellite platform. Its advanced transponders can cover the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as all of central and southern Africa.
In addition to making and launching the satellite, China will also build ground control and training facilities and will train satellite-control personnel. China Telecom will participate in the project by upgrading Congo’s communication network and providing management services.
“Today is a big day, a historic day, for us,” said Richard Achinda Wahilungula, director-general of the Congolese network. “China has abundant experience in satellites and telecommunication. We came here because China can help us develop a satellite and telecommunication, and we never contacted anyone else for this project.”
“Compared with Western nations, China’s satellite technology may arguably not be the most advanced, but it definitely suits the demand of Africa,” said Bode Agusto, senior budget adviser to former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo. “China has reduced African countries’ satellite operation costs and trained a great number of professionals for us.”
“With the support of the central government and the public, our aerospace industry has enjoyed rapid development during the past years,” said Lei Fanpei, deputy general manager of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASTC), parent of Great Wall. China’s aerospace industry has maintained an annual growth rate of 12%, he added.
China aims to capture 10% of the international satellite market and 15% of the world’s commercial launch field by the end of 2015, according to CASTC.
One nation from which China will have difficulty winning satellite launch orders is the US. In 1998 Congress banned US firms from using Chinese launch services to launch any satellites containing US-made components. The move came in the wake of allegations that Great Wall had received sensitive technology with military applications in the course of providing satellite launch services to Loral Space & Communications Ltd. or Hughes Electronics Corp.
