How Sentinel-6 will monitor global rise in sea levels VVVolVolVolVol ol.6 ol.6 66 No.NoNo. No78 No. No. 55 5 12 December 2018 2020 AFRICA Paytv subscriptions soars amidst COVID-19 PandemicNigeria SPECIAL REPORT C O N T E N T S Vol. 8 No. 12 A space party in Africa? Editor in-chief Aliyu Bello My journey as a space STEM Ambassador Executive Manager Tonia Gerrald Measuring the impact of COVID-19 on SA to the editor in-Chief Ngozi Okey business operations and purchasing Head, Application Services M. Yakubu priorities across the space technology supply chain Editorial/ICT Services John Daniel The new Copernicus mission provides Usman Bello free data about 95% of the ocean Alozie Nwankwo COVID – 19 lockdown and television viewership Juliet Nnamdi Client Relations Sunday Tache COVID-19, Children and the Television Space Lookman Bello 5G: Billions of people cannot access Safiya Thani Internet due to infrastructure deficiencies Marketing Offy Pat The gravity of dreams Tunde Nathaniel Nigeria to establish new 165 CORS Wasiu Olatunde station beginning from 2021 How US election campaigns harness GIS Media Relations Favour Madu data for voter outreach Khadijat Yakubu New climate guardian in space: Sentinel-6 Zacheous Felicia will monitor global rise in sea levels Finance Folarin Tunde Ready to continue 20 years of progress The PicoDragon satellite Nigeria: Telecoms will facilitate digital economy drive Space Watch Magazine is a publication of DLR scientist is part of the "Young Elite 2020" Communication Science, Inc. All correspondence should be addressed to editor, space Watch Magazine. Paytv subscriptions soars amidst Abuja office: Plot 2009, Awka Street, UTC Building, COVID-19 pandemic GF 11, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria Telescopes record last moments of star 'eaten' by a black hole Tel: 234 80336471114, 07084706167, email: [email protected] LEGAL CONSULTANTS Idowu Oriola & Co. Garki, Abuja DISTRIBUTION CONTACTS Ade Adejo ABIJAN INTERNATIONAL Suleija, Abuja AYO DISTRIBUTION AGENCY Emir Road, Ilorin Olumayowa Ojo NEWSROUND INTERNATIONAL Area 10, Garki, Abuja Magazine Circulation Nigeria Limited 90, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja Magazine Subscription Nigeria Limited Ikeja, Lagos. DELALI OTCHI Ridge Church, Tudu Branch, Accra, Ghana. AL AHRAM NEWPAPERS LIMITED Al Galaa Street -11511 Cairo-Egypt Ayo Olu MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION AGENCY Jos, Plateau State. Cover source: Nigerian Broadband Plan 1 EDITORIAL A space party in Africa? Last April, due to health concerns, and in big party with music, art and dance to several thousand guests to a symbolic cooperation with local health officials, the share the fascination of space. On April toast in a research station at the South large Yuri's Night party planned in Los 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin was the first Pole to a picnic under the cherry blossom Angeles, CA, at the Kennedy Space person to orbit the earth in his in Japan. But no matter how and where Center in FL, and in London was spaceship Vostok 1. With his legendary the party takes place: For one night, Yuri's cancelled. This is the same of many flight he opened the gateway to the Night unites rocket scientists, music events around the world this year. Yuri's cosmos for mankind and sichas an lovers, students and many others for a Night is the World Space Party. We hope immortal place in the history of the common interest: space! The astronauts to see you dream, explore, and celebrate planet. So far, 517 Earthlings from 38 on the International Space Station ISS with us at the hundreds of YN events held countries have followed Gagarin into have already celebrated, and there is around the world each April. space (as of April 2010): The length of even the “Second Life Yuri's Night” in While the official Yuri's Night is April 12th, time humans spend in space has been virtual space. Yuri's Night events can take place increased from one hour (1961, Yuri The individual events vary from large anytime around this date. Want to host it Gagarin) to 438 days (1994/95, Valery dance parties and information days with on a Friday night? Sunday brunch? Polyakov). Exactly 20 years later, on several thousand guests to a symbolic Thursday afternoon at a school? Anything April 12, 1981, the American space toast in a research station at the South is fine – as long as it is full of space spirit! shuttle also took off on its first flight, Pole to a picnic under the cherry blossom Also think about possible locations. If it is STS-1. Yuri's Night is a tribute to in Japan. But no matter how and where a public event, could you host it at a city previous achievements and successes the party takes place: For one night, Yuri's park? Would a bar or restaurant be willing in international space travel. Night unites rocket scientists, music to share their space with you in exchange lovers, students and many others for a for the publicity? Does your town have a The anniversary of the Gagarin flight common interest: space! The astronauts science museum or planetarium that was first celebrated in the Soviet Union on the International Space Station ISS would be interested in hosting? If it is in 1962. The new Russia continued this have already celebrated, and there is private event, do you want to host it at tradition. Every year on April 12th, the even the “Second Life Yuri's Night” in home? Maybe you could use a common Kosmos pioneers celebrate their virtual space. But no matter how and space in your apartment complex? In a “Space Travel Day”. The national where the party takes place: For one public park? commemoration and holiday of a night, Yuri's Night unites rocket scientists, country has now turned into a global music lovers, students and many others Yuri's Night, the group known for event: in 2001, under the coordination for a common interest: space! The worldwide space parties around the of Loretta Hidalgo-Whitesides and astronauts on the International Space anniversary of human spaceflight, is George Whitesides, a small group of Station ISS have already celebrated, and collaborating with the Science Museum in young people came together in a there is even the “Second Life Yuri's London to bring the spirit of Yuri's Night to project of the Space Generation Night” in virtual space. But no matter how the space-themed Lates on Wednesday Advisory Council (SGAC) to create the and where the party takes place: For one 25th March, 2020. This event will kick off first Call World Space Party. night, Yuri's Night unites rocket scientists, the 20th year of Yuri's Night parties all Whether in the private living room, in a music lovers, students and many others around the planet! cool night club or in a renowned for a common interest: space! The The evening will feature musical scientific institute, the characteristics of astronauts on the International Space performances from the incredible Space the events are as different as the Station ISS have already celebrated, and rocks team in association with ESA – the people who organize them. In the first there is even the “Second Life Yuri's European Space Agency, training like a year, 64 cities in 29 countries Night” in virtual space. Russian Cosmonaut on the British registered. And Yuri's Night still lives Yuri Gagarin's famous quote about the Interplanetary Society's replica Soyuz from this spirit today. 2013 celebrated beauty of the earth will not be forgotten. simulator, a crew of Space Ambassadors over 350 events in more than 50 When space travelers orbit the earth, they out mingling, as well as all the regular countries and on all 7 continents. The see no borders, only one planet and one Lates highlights, including the best silent individual events vary from large dance human race. That is the perspective we disco in town. Try your luck driving Mars parties and information days with want to share with people. The aim of rovers, prove that you're 'fit for space', several thousand guests to a symbolic Yuri's Night is to inspire young people learn how to survive on Mars and help us toast in a research station at the South around the world to celebrate the build the best LEGO Mars village! Pole to a picnic under the cherry conquest of space and to shape the future “Yuri's Night is excited to partner with the blossom in Japan. of the earth and space together.. Science Museum to bring this awesome But no matter how and where the party Don't miss a chance to meet our diverse space party to London. This will be an takes place: For one night, Yuri's Night group of engaging individuals from incredible opportunity for locals and the unites rocket scientists, music lovers, around London and the space community space community to come together and students and many others for a who are joining the party as Space celebrate the best that space has to offer,” common interest: space! The Ambassadors to share their personal said Tim Bailey, Executive Director of astronauts on the International Space experiences. Ambassadors will be Yuri's Night. Station ISS have already celebrated, identifiable with red sashes during the Yuri's Night is the worldwide celebration and there is even the “Second Life party to help guests identify them as safe of the manned departure into space. Yuri's Night” in virtual space. The to approach with their favorite space Every year on April 12th, the young individual events vary from large dance questions! generation all over the world unites in a parties and information days with 5 APPOINTMENTS Another component of Bishop's research is collecting spectra under Mars-like conditions.