$ 20 million for a small satellite, is it too expensive?

Around the questions of some readers about the estimated cost for the whole program of launching small-sized remote sensing satellite in Vietnam, VietNamNet discussed with Mr. Tran Cong Due, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of the economic sectors. Art, Ministry of Science and Technology.

Mr. Tran Cong Due.

There is an opinion that the estimated price of $ 20 million for a small sized satellite from 60 to 100kg is too big, about 10 times higher than the world price. How do you explain this question?

- Mr. Tran Cong Due: The price of satellites depends on three main factors: satellite design and manufacturing prices; rental rocket to put satellite on orbit; satellite insurance costs on orbit and the cost of buying a dedicated photo acquisition station. With these three contents, the higher the requirement, the higher the cost and completion time. For example, if you choose high-resolution, multi-camera, high-resolution sensors, the transceiver has a large capacity band and solar cells with capacity batteries. Large, etc., the cost of designing and manufacturing satellites is more expensive.

With a lot of heavy equipment on satellites, the price of renting satellite to orbit is also higher. A large size rocket can now push three small satellites simultaneously. If not waiting for more partners to launch small satellites, the price will increase significantly.

Often, satellite manufacturing costs account for about 1/3 of the total cost of the entire program. The cost of hiring satellite launchers is about the same. 1/3 of the remaining costs are spent on the construction of satellite control stations, satellite insurance in orbit, training of cadres, storage of warehouses and waiting for the launch date . Need to approve new specific bidding Can determine the official price. Manufacturers often refer to the price of designing and manufacturing satellites only, when entering negotiations, the total cost of the team will be greatly increased. Often, the cost of designing a small satellite and placing it on orbit requires between $ 3 and $ 20 million, depending on the configuration selected.

According to Mr. VN need some remote sensing satellites in the future?

- Remote sensing satellite is the technology that serves life. If we buy satellite images from foreign countries, it will be very passive. In Southeast Asia, only four countries, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, do not yet have such satellites. In my opinion, in the current economic situation, in the short term, Vietnam should have a remote sensing satellite in low-range orbit with high resolution.

This will be a multitasking satellite: Monitoring resources - environment; Monitoring changes in weather and disaster warning; Monitoring the evolution of vegetation, land management and construction planning; Monitor and manage traffic activities on land and sea; Early detection of incidents of forest fires or oil spills on the sea . But for other purposes, if necessary, buy foreign satellite images.

It is known that the small satellite project was submitted to the Government in 2003. Is it possible that the project will be approved this year?

-The Government has recently approved the project to manufacture and launch Vinasat telecom satellites and the project to build satellite image receiving stations. These are two urgent projects, which have been passed without waiting for the application strategy and development of space technology.

Perhaps this small satellite project will have to wait after the Government adopts the above Strategy because Strategy is a project with many scientific and technological meanings. Through this Strategy, a team of science and technology personnel can be trained to research, design, manufacture satellites and effectively apply space technology and at the same time build the Infrastructure is very important to serve the country's economic and social development.

Thank you Sir!

Minh Son