After VINASAT is the small satellite Pico built by Vietnam

While VINASAT telecommunications satellite is about to launch into space on April 12, scientists at the Institute of Space Technology are quietly building a small remote sensing satellite (Pico) to put into operation. in 2010.

Dr. Pham Anh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Institute of Space Technology (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) - for readers of VietNamNet to know more about satellite technology development activities in Vietnam.

- VINASAT satellite will be launched into space on April 12. What is the difference between the VINASAT satellite and the small satellite PICO that the Institute of Space Technology is researching and manufacturing?

Dr.Pham Anh Tuan: The value of remote sensing satellites cannot be calculated by money.(Photo: Ng. Huyen)

- In Vietnam (VN) currently, there are 2 types of satellites that need attention, such as telecommunications satellites like VINASAT (geostationary satellites) and remote sensing satellites.

Remote sensing satellites fly around the earth. The specific type that Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) is interested in is about 600-800 km, within 1-2 days of flying over Vietnam, depending on the type of satellite. VNPT's VINASAT satellite will launch in the near future at an altitude of about 36,000 km. With this position, the satellite always beams signals to Vietnam and almost stands still compared to the position of Vietnam.

The mission of remote sensing satellite is taking pictures. At such a high altitude, if using satellites such as telecommunications satellites, the images are unknown, the accuracy is not high. Due to flying at a low level, remote sensing satellites can capture images and produce clearer images. The main application of remote sensing satellites is the protection of natural resources and the environment, earth observation: serving more accurate weather forecasts, monitoring of marine areas and resources, controlling forest fires .

The characteristics of remote sensing satellites are using different sensors, so it is possible to capture different types of color spectra to be able to recognize the types of plants and land . During the process of shooting many times, we can recognize and compare the distribution of forest land, different green trees, landslides, etc. Remote sensing satellites are also applied in the field of national security and security, such as monitoring ships out. entering, strange ships infiltrating into Vietnamese territory.

- According to the published information, with VINASAT, people can lease channels to serve telecommunications (television, communication). Thus, we can immediately see the commercial value of VINASAT. What about satellite remote sensing, are they worth doing business?

- The economic value of VINASAT can be seen immediately by money, but remote sensing satellite cannot be calculated by money. Now, when we want to observe Vietnam (for purposes such as weather forecasting, natural disasters, environmental monitoring, national security .) we still have to rely on other satellites. Thus, when we touch sensitive issues or urgent times, we will be very passive and dependent.

I take, for example, when we want to photograph Truong Sa island in a sensitive time, it will be difficult for any country to capture and provide photos to Vietnam. or the recent oil spill on the Vietnamese coast, coming to the shore just to know, then we went to ask the countries whether to take pictures of the area to find the cause. In such cases, if Vietnam has its own satellite, we will be proactive and react faster in protecting natural resources and national security.

The price of a satellite photo purchased from a foreign country for the first customer is very expensive: 200 to 300 USD for 1 km ² . For used images, the price is about 20 US Dollars for 1 km ² with a resolution of 1m (understandably, the definition of the image of objects on the ground is about 1m). So to cover the whole area with the ever-updated image of Vietnam, it takes a lot of photos with very high cost and not enough money to buy all. If it is a satellite of Vietnam, we can take advantage of all the effects of satellites and many industries and many related fields to benefit.

Around the world, there have been many workshops on the application of remote sensing satellites. There are places where thanks to remote sensing, it is possible to identify the source of fish, to tell which areas have fish, while this is going to Vietnam; or Typhoon Chanchu just now, if we have remote sensing satellites we will be able to detect them sooner and be able to get an emergency warning signal to storm boats that promptly avoid storms.

In addition, the development of space technology also helps us show our high-tech capabilities. Vietnam develops this technology for the sake of peace and the development of the aerospace technology industry, along with other high-tech industries.

- How does remote sensing satellite work? How do we get photos of satellite remote sensing?

PICO 3, remote sensing satellite made by Vietnamese scientists (Photo: Ng. Huyen)

- When Vietnam's remote sensing satellite orbits the earth, it is capable of taking pictures on its entire rotation; capturing all the images around the earth or limiting the capture of the Vietnamese territory alone is due to our decision. There are so many satellites in the world, they can share information for each other, selling photos to each other. Because Vietnam currently does not have satellites, we still have to buy photos of foreign satellites flying over Vietnam.

Remote sensing satellites will operate under the control of the underground control station. There are many saving satellites that capture a lot of images in any area that fly over and stored in the satellite's memory, when passing the satellite receiver will transmit images down. Currently in our country there is a satellite image collection station located in Tu Liem district, Hanoi. When the satellite passes through this station, the satellite will signal to the receiving station.

When VN launches the satellite, there must be a photo receiving station, such as a communication signal receiving station. Unlike VINASAT satellite, which is a geostationary satellite, it always receives the signal, the receiver station of the remote sensing satellite must collect the captured images while the satellite flies over Vietnam, if there is no next station where the capture still, we must ask the foreign collecting station that VN satellite passes to collect images.

Currently, Vietnam has only one high-resolution photo station managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. There are also a number of meteorological photo stations, meteorological radar that can capture meteorological images with low resolution. This station only selects a number of satellite images to be transmitted, because the characteristics of the receiving station are that each station can only capture images of certain satellite types.

In the immediate future, we will use the existing photo collection station to collect images of the remote sensing satellite that VN intends to launch. In the long run, the collecting stations will have to be upgraded and there may be additional collection stations in the South. Otherwise we have to sign with other countries to help, or we still take a shot, but we have to wait for the next round of our satellite to fly over Vietnam to get all the pictures. VINASAT satellites also have two control stations in the North and the South, but these two stations do not capture images of remote sensing satellites.

- Now, what kind of satellites are Vietnam researching and prioritizing to develop?

- In the strategy, in the short term, Vietnam only focuses on developing small satellite remote sensing, such as: Pico satellite (under 1kg type) for training purposes, Nano satellites (under 10kg type), Micro ( is less than 100kg), small satellite (under 500kg) . Vietnam will choose the type of satellite from 100kg - 200kg, capable of fulfilling all the tasks of protecting natural resources mentioned above.

Our point of view, when building the small satellite project Pico, is to train young staff to learn a whole process from designing, manufacturing, testing, launching to orbit. and control a satellite (because a small satellite and a large satellite have the same process). It is important that through specific work, young people gain more basic knowledge, learn experience in team work and professional working style that high-tech industries require very strict.

Pico satellite project is also an international cooperation project between the Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology and the Japanese Space Committee (JAXA), through which young people of the Institute are also directly contacted with experts. In Japan, learn experiences and improve international cooperation capabilities so that in the near future can participate in international projects on satellite development.

Currently, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology is also preparing to implement the Small Earth Observation Satellite Project, this is a technology transfer project and can be quickly put into socio-economic applications for country. The strategy of researching and applying Space Technology has clearly determined that we need to grasp the technology of manufacturing small satellites to gradually build small satellites. Space technology is the integration of many different high-tech industries for socio-economic development.

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Currently, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology is building a project of transferring remote sensing satellite technology called VNREDSAT, weighing about 150kg. However, the project has yet to decide which technology of the country to choose, so it is unclear how much the cost is, how much it is worth.

In addition, the Space Technology Institute is also preparing to participate in a satellite project called APRSAF - Satellite with some Asian - Pacific countries such as Japan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines . The feature of this project is that countries will work together, learn the experience and technology of satellite manufacture and later exploit the satellite launched.

- Will Vietnam launch itself or hire foreign countries?

- Currently only a few countries have launched satellites: Russia, America, India, China, Japan and Europe. The trend of the countries in the world is mostly self-made satellites then hire launchers. Currently Vietnam is considering, has not decided which country to hire. Because Vietnam 's Pico satellite is very small, it will launch with other countries' satellites, about a dozen satellites for one launch.

To hire satellites, we have to register through an organization to do the licensing procedures. When shooting a bunch of microscopic satellites, such as in the United States, they will make a number of satellite containers, each containing up to three Pico satellites and hiring a rocket to fire the satellites. In general, low-level satellites do not have to register or apply for orbit. Launching agencies like the US will set the standard of parameters that satellites must ensure, through good operation test. Because Pico satellite is on the lower floor, it does not have to register the fund.

Based on the capacity of the rocket, usually a single shot will have several large satellites weighing several hundred kilograms and accompanied by microscopic satellite containers (follower) like a passenger car, customer big sitting in front, small passengers sitting behind, walking on a ride. Therefore, we must pre-register for the garage to arrange and depend on them because there is not always a trip.

- Can you tell me how the satellite shooting service is and how expensive it is?

- A weight-based satellite shooting service, such as a 1-kilogram Pico satellite, includes a trial rental, firing nearly $ 50,000. Only after the launch, can we know the true quality of the satellite when operating in the space environment, and whether the ability of self-fabrication of Vietnam is successful or not. Below we have a communication and control station, a signal test, a photo acquisition.

The total cost of a small satellite project from manufacturing to full launch is over $ 100,000. For large satellites, it costs a few tens of millions of dollars. Currently, the Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology has just provided funding for the Institute of Space Technology to make it, after making the Institute, it is expected to allocate funds to launch the satellite. The Pico satellite project is about $ 50,000.

- Compared to other countries, the process of developing satellite technology of Vietnam is too young, please tell us the importance of developing satellite technology in Vietnam?

- In October 1957, Russia's Sputnik artificial satellite launched into orbit, in 2007, the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first artificial satellite launch, while now Vietnam has just begun. We are also glad that Vietnam is gradually learning to master satellite technology. VINASAT launched into orbit, but only in the form of turnkey and operation. In the future, we must build and master our technology. Not only should we develop satellite remote sensing, we should develop scientific satellites for testing experiments.

Due to limited funding conditions, we now only launch a satellite. When that satellite is about to run out of time, we launch another satellite. But developed countries can launch different types of satellites, each with a number of different sensors and specialized in a field of weather, resources, sea .

- The development of the space technology industry in Vietnam faces many difficulties, please tell me what are the difficulties?

- Vietnam is one of the countries included in the list and is restricted from high technology import, so developed countries do not sell to Vietnam some sensitive equipment or high-tech equipment. Moreover, we are the first to make a satellite, even small, but we have to learn and learn from experts and friends through international cooperation, inexperience and inferior facilities. The floor is not completely available, because the newly established institute (the new institute is preparing to build a clean room for assembly), the test equipment is not yet available, . The manufacturing process is not too difficult but the satellite test equipment whether it works or not, there are many other related issues and requires a lot of auxiliary equipment.

Fortunately, our Institute received technical support and cooperation from the Japanese Space Commission (JAXA) for the young staff of the Institute. However, they only help in terms of technical advice, and equipment and components, this time is still sensitive, so the support for the Institute is limited.

Please also add that, with a $ 50,000 budget just enough to make a Pico satellite launch and broadcast a signal that was successful, if we attached a GPS device to locate the location satellite costs will be different. Or the cost depends on the quality and cost of the solar panels attached to the Satellite.

In short, we start from zero, from experience to infrastructure. Therefore, if Vietnam wants to develop the space technology industry, it needs to have a great and synchronous determination, from human investment, infrastructure and big projects. If the investment continues to be small, the effect will not be high. Overseas, space agencies receive great attention from the Government, while Vietnam is still very cautious. Part of the reason is that we have not fully understood the effectiveness of the application of space technology for socio-economic service, so that society recognizes great benefits and fully supports the development. industry development. The Institute of Space Technology has just been established, so it takes time, needs the attention of the whole community and, moreover, the strong support of the Government, ministries and agencies with sufficient investment and focus. . Thus, we need to be together and very determined to get the long-term and sustainable development of space technology, a very young industry in Vietnam.

Plan to build Pico Satellite

As planned in 2007 to complete the design, in 2008 will be finished, in 2009 ground testing and expected Pico satellite will be launched in 2010. We are currently modeling, testing modules, end This year, it will be integrated into a complete satellite for initial testing purposes . Pico satellite will operate in space with a minimum life span of about 6 months, when the operation expires, it will become garbage on the Universe. cylinder. Currently in the universe there is a lot of garbage of broken satellites, in the process of saving in space, encountering the earth or the atmosphere, it will burn.

- Thank you Sir!

Ngoc Huyen (done)