30/04/03

Nigeria warns of falling satellite threat

By: Abiodun Raufu

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<h1>Nigeria warns of falling satellite threat</h1>
<h4>By: Abiodun Raufu</h4>
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<p>[LAGOS] The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has warned that an Italian satellite may fall out of orbit and plummet into Nigeria in the next two days. </p>
<p>Speaking yesterday (29 April) at a press conference in Lagos, the head of NAMA Yusufu Mohammed warned that the satellite "may disintegrate into 42 fragments and fall from the sky … causing damage to persons, aircraft, vehicles and [other] structures". </p>
<p>Mohammed said that there is a one in 2000 chance that the satellite will hit a person, and the chance of an aircraft being struck is one in a million. </p>
<p>The BEPPO-SAX satellite, which has been deactivated, is owned by the Italian Space Agency. It is expected to fall within a band about 4.36 degrees north and south of the equator. "The coastal areas and waters of Nigeria fall within these estimated areas," said Mohammed. "All countries within these latitudes are being put on notice."</p>

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[LAGOS] The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has warned that an Italian satellite may fall out of orbit and plummet into Nigeria in the next two days.

Speaking yesterday (29 April) at a press conference in Lagos, the head of NAMA Yusufu Mohammed warned that the satellite "may disintegrate into 42 fragments and fall from the sky … causing damage to persons, aircraft, vehicles and [other] structures".

Mohammed said that there is a one in 2000 chance that the satellite will hit a person, and the chance of an aircraft being struck is one in a million.

The BEPPO-SAX satellite, which has been deactivated, is owned by the Italian Space Agency. It is expected to fall within a band about 4.36 degrees north and south of the equator. "The coastal areas and waters of Nigeria fall within these estimated areas," said Mohammed. "All countries within these latitudes are being put on notice."