## 3 Technical Features and Socio-Legal Characteristics of Africa's Satellite Constellation  
Geospatial products and the air- and space-based platforms from which they are derived are useful in a myriad of ways for all modern states. Information and communications, derived from them are vital for imaging, telecommunications, telebroadcasting and information technology. In recent years microwave remote sensing devices and other meteorological applications have been very useful in monitoring cyclones, rainfall, floods and cold waves, which are regularly occurring phenomena in many developing countries, for example the Bangladesh communication to COPUOUS of 27 October 2009 as quoted in United Nations, General Assembly, Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Questions on the definition and delimitation of outer space: replies from Member States January 2010, A/AC.105/889/Add.5 11 [30]. Satellite technology has applications in medical aid, international healthcare and telemedicine. With satellite link up technology, such as the European Healthcare project, people living in remote areas where health care professionals are unavoidable or unable to leave their homes may receive advanced health care. Medical professionals also discuss cases and tap into specialisations without expensive transfers. Success stories in the area of telecommunication healthcare have been demonstrated in Cyprus, France, Greece, Czech Republic, Poland and United Kingdom, The Healthcare system uses a communications format known as Digital video broadcasting return Chanel via Satellite (DVB-RCS) which do not depend on a physical cable. See GMES; European Commission, DG enterprise and Industry, EU: Connecting People through satellite-based Telemedicine Connecting People Through satellite-based Telemedicine Solutions: Scenarios and Practical Experiences from the Healthcare project available at ([[http://www.epractice.eu/files/media/media1916.pdf](http://www.epractice.eu/files/media/media1916.pdf)]([http://www.epractice.eu/files/media/media1916.pdf](http://www.epractice.eu/files/media/media1916.pdf))).  
Apart from the relatively towering achievements of South Africa and Nigeria, a few other African States have taken a keen interest in space technology in furtherance of their national goals and other commercial and security interests. Earth observation, remote sensing and telecommunications are the centrepieces of African satellite technological requirements and therefore investments. The technical specifications of Nigeria's stable of satellite acquisition, for instance, betray the country's needs at its stage of development, in 1976, Nigeria declared its space ambition to members of the Economic Commission for Africa and Organization of African Unity during an inter-governmental meeting in Addis-Abbab. In 1988 the National Council of Ministers' approved the establishment of a National Centre for Remote Sensing, to be located at Jos; with a Ground Receiving Station, at Kerang, in Mangu LGA of Plateau State (site of the defunct Aerostat Balloon Project). NASRDA's focus today is in Rocketary and Propulsions, Earth Observations and Space Communications. For more information on NASRDA see its website ([[http://nasrda.gov.ng/en/](http://nasrda.gov.ng/en/)]([http://nasrda.gov.ng/en/](http://nasrda.gov.ng/en/))). Nigeria has taken impressive lead in Sub-Saharan Africa by launching a total of four satellite missions--NIGERIASAT-1, NIGERIASAT-2, NIGCOMSAT-1 and NIGERIASAT-X [31].