Vietnam makes progress in mastering satellite technology

Vietnam is aiming to manufacture a satellite on its own by 2022, according to Deputy Director Pham Anh Tuan of the Vietnam National Satellite Centre (VNSC).

The plans were announced at a conference on implementing the country’s satellite strategy over the next five years.

Tuan said in the past the VNSC succeeded in developing a super small 1-kilogram satellite given the title PicoDragon, which was launched into space in August 2013.

Vietnam's satellite development roadmap

He added that the centre is planning to manufacture larger satellites, including a 10-kilogram MicroDragon, set to be launched into orbit in 2018 aboard a Japanese rocket, and two 600-kilogram Lotusat satellites.

Lotusat-1 is scheduled for launch in 2019 while Lotusat-2 will be entirely made in Vietnam by 2022 when infrastructure for research, installation, integration and testing is fully ready.

Tuan said with the two Lotusat satellites sporting radar sensing technology, Vietnam will be capable of observing its entire territorial land and waters in all weather conditions in high resolution.

The satellites will also contribute to mitigating the impacts of climate change and natural disasters, managing natural resources and monitoring the environment.

In the time ahead, the VNSC will commence operations of observatories in Nha Trang and Hoa Lac to promote space research.

Notably the Hoa Lac Space Museum with a planetarium is scheduled to open to the public in 2018, helping to spread knowledge, inspire young people and nurture their passion for space exploration.

(Source: NDO)