During the event, the center’s Director General Pham Anh Tuan updated the progress of the Vietnam Space Center Project and of its “Made in Vietnam” satellite. Meanwhile, the Japanese group introduced satellite technologies for the project.
The purpose of the package is to successfully develop and launch the LOTUSat-1 Earth observation satellite into orbit.
According to the center, the LOTUSat-1 can capture high-definition images of objects on the earth surface in all weather conditions. Data from the satellite will help the country promptly mitigate consequences of natural disasters and climate change, manage natural resources, conduct environmental observation, and contribute to socio-economic development.
In addition, the satellite will pave the way for operating related space and telecommunications facilities as well as for benefiting the development of high quality human resources in this work.
The LOTUSat-1 is designed and manufactured by NEC Group of Japan and is set to be launched in 2023. Training courses and technology transfer activities will take place in the group’s factory in Japan. This is the first Vietnam's earth observation satellite coordinated by a Japanese company using the official development assistance loans in line with the framework of the Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
On January 18, 2019, MicroDragon satellite, developed by 36 Vietnamese engineers from the Vietnam Space Center who were sent to Japan to study satellite technology, was launched into the space. The event marked the first time Vietnam has made its own micro satellite (50kg).
Earlier in 2013, the Vietnam Space Center launched another micro satellite named PicoDragon (1kg) into the earth’s orbit. During its three months of operation, the satellite broadcast the “PicoDragon VietNam” news to ground stations all over the world.
A bigger satellite, NanoDragon (10kg), of Vietnam is currently under development. It is expected to be launched in 2020 by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Translated by Van Hieu