Its Committee on Science and Technology, which is probing the failure of the country's first commercial satellite - Nigeria Communication Satellite-I - is backing plans by the National Space Research and Development Agency and the Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited to embark on the building of NigComSat-II and NigComSat-III.

NigComSat-I, which was launched into orbit on May 13, 2007, in the twilight of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, cost the country about $251.6m.

The spacecraft, however, failed and was de-orbited about 18 months later in November 2008.

The committee, headed by Mr. Abiodun Akinlade, conducted a two-day public hearing on the failure of NigComSat-I last week in Abuja.

A former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, who testified before the panel, had disclosed that the Federal Government knew that the project could fail but still went on with it because it wanted to prepare Nigeria for a future that would be controlled by space technology.

Investigations by our correspondent on Sunday, showed that before the public hearing, the committee had opposed the idea of embarking on new space projects when success could not be guaranteed.

However, experts, who testified before the committee and submitted memoranda, were said to have convinced the lawmakers that Nigeria stood to lose more by being aloof on the grounds that space business was risky and wasteful for a poor nation.

A source told our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday, "What some of the lawmakers have just realised is that space technology is not a product that you place on the window for sale.

"It takes many years of research, training, funding and providing the required personnel that will engender technology transfer.

"Countries that are successful in satellite technology did not stop because their first spacecraft failed; they built on the lessons of the first one."

It was gathered that the committee was also shown the insurance terms and the agreement Nigeria signed with the Chinese technical partners of NigComSat-I - China Great Wall Industry Corporation - with a clause committing them to replace the satellite in the event of failure.

Asked to comment on the findings of the committee and the recommendations it would make to the House, Akinlade said it was improper to speak on the matter before the committee had submitted its report.

He, however, told our correspondent, "All over the world, the first satellite would have a follow-up.

"In fact, after a successful launch, there should be a back-up or the development of another satellite almost simultaneously."

Investigations revealed that one of the examples the panel reviewed was Iran, which successfully launched its first domestic satellite, "Omid," through Safir-2 rocket on February 2, 2009.

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