Micro - Dragon satellite of Vietnam will launch in Japan

Next December, the Epsilon missile will launch the Micro-Dragon satellite. This is an optical satellite that can observe coastal waters.

Dr Pham Anh Tuan, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Space Center, said the Micro-Dragon satellite plan (weighing 50kg) would launch into orbit in 12/2018.

Participating in this satellite production, 36 Vietnamese engineers are studying in Japan. The planet is made and will be launched in Japan with Epsilon missiles.

Micro Dragon has the task of observing coastal waters to assess water quality, locate aquatic resources, monitor changes in occurrences in coastal waters to serve Vietnam's aquaculture.

Vietnamese engineers practice assembling PicoDragon satellites with experts in Japan.(Photo: VNSC.)

With a low resolution (70 m - only distinguishing objects with a size of 70m or more), Micro - Dragon satellites do not have the function of detecting and locating ships, but only one sensor of water observation sea ​​to monitor the quality of water and oil spills on the sea.

Micro - Dragon can provide information about the animals, zooplankton living in the observed sea. It can be observed and provides information on what types of fish, which size are living in the sea, helps manage and develop fisheries.

The study of engineers in Japan directly involved in satellite production is a way to practice, gradually grasp and master the technology of designing and manufacturing satellites in Vietnam.

Previously, engineers of the Vietnam Space Center successfully built the Pico Dragon micro-satellite (10 x 10 x 11.35 cm in size and 1 kg in weight). This satellite was launched into orbit in November 2013 and operated to achieve its goal.

After Micro Dragon, Vietnam will continue to manufacture LOTUSat -1 satellite to forecast natural disasters.

LOTUSat-1 satellite simulation image that the project 'Prevention of natural disasters and climate change using earth observation satellites' will be built.(Photo: JICA Vietnam.)

The objective of the Strategy for Research and Application of Space Technology to 2020, Vietnam will own satellites manufactured by Vietnam in 2020, the Government of Vietnam has decided to implement the project 'Prevention of natural disasters. and climate change using Earth observation satellites' to realize this strategy.

The project was implemented from 2012 to 2023 with a capital of VND 7,000 billion funded by Japanese ODA and reciprocal capital from the State budget, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology as the managing agency. .