A Long March rocket launched Monday with a powerful Chinese-built, Nigerian-owned communications satellite to serve Africans with television, education, navigation and security services. Liftoff occurred at 12:41 a.m. Beijing time. Nigeria ordered the mission from China in 2009, purchasing a multi-use satellite built by the China Academy of Space Technology and arranging a Long March rocket launch from China Great Wall Industry Corp., the commercial sales firm for Chinese launchers. The satellite-builder and launch provider are both controlled by the Chinese government. The spacecraft will be operated by Nigcomsat Ltd., a communications firm owned by the Nigerian government. The 11,200-pound...
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