The Lagos-based Centre For Space Transport And Propulsion (CSTP), a technical arm of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) focused on space transport and rocketry, has completed three successful experimental rocket launches in the past nine months, recording varying degrees of success.

Established on 19 February 2003, as one of the six activity Centres of NASRDA, CSTP is charged with the responsibility of conducting fundamental research and development (R & D ) of space transport vehicles and propulsion system.

Managed by Nigerian scientists and engineers, the goal of the program is to enable Nigeria to operate a spaceport with the capability to launch commercial satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO), and interplanetary space by 2030.

The Centre is strategically situated along the Lagos lagoon in Epe, and near the Lagos State University (LASU), Epe Engineering campus.

According to an official document from the Centre obtained by Space in Africa, CSTP carried three successful rocket test flights: CSTP_TL_1 launched on the 24 April 2019 while CSTP_TL_2 and CSTP_TL_3 were launched on the same day, 25 June 2019.

The document did not disclose the altitude achieved by the experimental flights. However, Space in Africa, in a previous site visit to the Centre, gathered that the Centre has carried out over 30 experimental rocket launches before 2019 with record altitude below 10km.

The recent test launches were conducted to demonstrate an extensive research effort carried out by the Centre to formulate a hybrid of sucrose and sorbitol-based propellants and to ascertain the integrity of its newly developed rocket recovery system.

“In the past CSTP has used sucrose-based or sorbitol-based rocket fuel which is of low energy for its test flights. It is pertinent to note that from 2019, extensive research effort has been carried out to formulate a hybrid of sucrose and sorbitol to obtain a solid rocket fuel of a higher specific impulse than the previous solid rocket fuels. This new fuel will be a game-changer for CSTP and hopefully, it will ensure the retirement of heavier Solid Rocket Motors for lighter ones,” CSTP told Space in Africa.

CSTP made some progress in the past 9 months in developing innovative propulsion systems and new propellants including the “design of a new nozzle and its integration with a bulkhead and chamber for Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) application”. The Centre said it designed and fabricated several SRMs with sorbitol propellants which recorded static test results ranging from 1.2KN-6.2KN. Its SRMs using sucrose and sorbitol-based hybrid propellants recorded 5.13KN with free volume and 7.12KN without free volume. The Centre also developed a 20KN load-cell with integrated data acquisition system (DAQ) for static test of SRM.

In the area of software development, the Centre boasts of developing “advanced in-house software platforms for analysis, evaluation, prediction and estimation of various datasets for optimization of the rocket structure, SMR and rocket test flights”.

On 25 June 2019, the then Director-General of NASRDA, Prof S.O Mohammed commissioned two modern facilities at the Centre: a mechanical workshop and advanced propulsion complex to support the Centre’s research and development activities.

According to Nigeria’s 25-year strategic roadmap for space, CSTP is expected to develop fully functional propulsion systems and sounding rockets to launch Nigerian-made satellites into space from a Nigerian spaceport by 2030.

Although the Centre has fallen short of its development timeline, CSTP officials believe they can still achieve the goal of launching satellites from Nigeria by 2030 if the government prioritizes funding for the project.

The Nigerian government is reportedly considering to set up a new launch site on a remote island in the Atlantic, to accommodate full-sized space launch programme. Space in Africa is yet to confirm the status of the report as most government officials either decline to comment on the plan or deny knowledge of such report.
https://africanews.space/nigerias-cstp-completes-three-successful-experimental-rocket-launches/

More pictures

with that rocket launcher..it would be easy for the SW to create ( ICBMs) intercontinental ballistic missiles.Education is growing fast in west.good luck to them.Sw is a region owned by the yoruba people.hausa/ibo people are also there with them..simple

Hahahaha

Nigeria....to me this information is not for public consumption.

oyin44:
with that rocket launcher..it would be easy for the SW to create ( ICMBs) intercontinental ballistic missiles.Education is growing fast in west.good luck to them

lol

You don't even know how to be tribalistic.

So they told you it was done by the SW? A federal government agency with diverse staffs headed by a northerner.

RTSC:

lol

You don't even know how to be tribalistic.

So they told you it was done by the SW? A federal government agency with diverse staffs headed by a northerner.

Which rubbish diverse staff
It is located in lasu
To get into lasu,if u are not yorubas, forget it
Look at that pix and u will c its yorubas and few Hausa there

eternityk:

Which rubbish diverse staff
It is located in lasu
To get into lasu,if u are not yorubas, forget it
Look at that pix and u will c its yorubas and few Hausa there

It is located close to LASU due to geographic reasons. It has nothing to do with the SW.
It is not a Yoruba company.

There are other research centers in different parts of the country.

Lolzzzzzz.... Dis ones dey launch firecrackers say dem dey launch rocket... D pictures a b and c of d components is laughable... Money dat would b wisely spent in other more important sectors like power and infrastructure. Imagine d centre testing and launching rockets have no idea d altitude of d tests...

Wow....one thing to be proud of..

But we move at a VEEERRRRYYY slow pace in most of Africa
Imagine just testing rockets in 2019...something oyinbos have been doing since the 1950's

Still good though...big ups Nigeria!

☺☺

Lol... Lemme not say anything

How much was spent on this mission impossible

Ok

Enjoy 8 hours electricity daily with our 1kva solar power system. Check my signature now.

I don't want any object to land on my head oh

For a typical layman, na the sixth paragraph this news suppose just end.

RTSC:

It is located close to LASU due to geographic reasons. It has nothing to do with the SW.
It is not a Yoruba company.

There are other research centers in different parts of the country.

Lol I know u are In pain its not in your land
Yoruba engineers will dominate it
Because I know Hausa's ft don't even like u people
Look at those pictures again and see their traditional dresses

eternityk:
Which rubbish diverse staff It is located in lasu To get into lasu,if u are not yorubas, forget it Look at that pix and u will c its yorubas and few Hausa there

you hatred for SW is neausating,is it a yoruba project of a national project??

Can we sort the issue of electricity in the country before we think about space..

Nigeria as a country shouldn't be dealing with issue concerning space..

we dey try...make dem no come politicized am.

Hez143:

you hatred for SW is neausating,is it a yoruba project of a national project??

Go sleep

Talk about misplaced priorities. I won't be surprised if some of the workers if not all are being owed salaries. High state of insecurity, no jobs, failing economy, dilapidated structures and bad road and the almighty solution is to start launching rockets.

Interesting... Kudos

So these clowns went to buy do it yourself kit solid propellant kit rocket to decieve Nigeria and Nigerian then justify the huge budget ..

Not very impressive. Boko Haram has been using home-made rockets for close to five years now. Undergraduates in the developed world 'play' with rockets.
We should focus more on developing our metallurgy and electronics. Rocketry is not just about propulsion, guidance is the most important aspect of it.

C wat dey are making noise to do can dat even pass the sky into space c as dey body rough,Just hear dey budget for it alone then u will wonder if it launched astronaut to the space station

gloriaunobi:
I don't want any object to land on my head oh

Lol �

This one na missile

Rubbish....

They bought big sized fire crackers made in Thailand in one of these Lagos market and thereafter come to the media to celebrate foolishness....

Well it is written in Habakkuk 14:14..

When a Dundee rules, the people lose focus.

Buhari dirty boxers fall on anyone who will quote me wrongly.

They have a record altitude of below 10km in 2019, you need an orbital altitude of around 350km to successfully get a satellite in space, they should stop wasting scarce resources and direct the funds for this joke to more pressing issues.