Nigeria plans to send an astronaut to space by 2030

By Kieron Monks, for CNN

Updated 1019 GMT (1819 HKT) April 6, 2016

The Nigerian government has announced plans to launch an astronaut into space by 2030, as part of an ambitious space program.
Photos: To boldly go
The Nigerian government has announced plans to launch an astronaut into space by 2030, as part of an ambitious space program.
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Nigeria has already launched five satellites into space. The first - NigeriaSat-1 - was launched on a Kosmos-3M rocket from Russia's Plesetsk spaceport in 2003.
Photos: To boldly go
Nigeria has already launched five satellites into space. The first - NigeriaSat-1 - was launched on a Kosmos-3M rocket from Russia's Plesetsk spaceport in 2003.
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Nigeria has also utilized the Chinese 'Long March 3-B' rocket (pictured), and three of its satellites remain in operation.
Photos: To boldly go
Nigeria has also utilized the Chinese 'Long March 3-B' rocket (pictured), and three of its satellites remain in operation.
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For several years, the Nigerian Space Agency has collaborated with the British company Surrey Space Technology Limited (SSTL) to develop the program and train engineers.
Photos: To boldly go
For several years, the Nigerian Space Agency has collaborated with the British company Surrey Space Technology Limited (SSTL) to develop the program and train engineers.
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Images of New Orleans after Hurrican Katrina in 2005, taken from NigComSat-1.
Photos: To boldly go
Images of New Orleans after Hurrican Katrina in 2005, taken from NigComSat-1.
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NigeriaSat-X, launched in 2011, was the first to be designed and constructed by Nigerian engineers, and is now part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC), set up for the Algerian, Nigerian, Turkish, British and Chinese governments to provide emergency images in the event of a disaster.
Photos: To boldly go
NigeriaSat-X, launched in 2011, was the first to be designed and constructed by Nigerian engineers, and is now part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC), set up for the Algerian, Nigerian, Turkish, British and Chinese governments to provide emergency images in the event of a disaster.
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The Nigerian space agency claims to have trained 300 staff to PhD or BsC level, and has ambitious plans to expand the industry, and encourage space programs across the continent.