MicroDragon satellite and the dream of reaching the Vietnamese space

designed and manufactured by researchers at the National Space Center, are ready to launch into orbit in 2018 with Japanese Epsilon missiles.

Satellite manufacturing is the first result of the most invested project for science and technology so far, up to 600 million USD, with the expectation that this will be a step for Vietnam to become a top country. Regional leader in satellite technology, opening up other opportunities for the country in the industrial revolution 4.0.

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Starting with the first satellite weighing only 1kg, it was designed and assembled and successfully launched into orbit in 2013, Dr. Pham Anh Tuan - General Director of Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC) - and his partner confidently implement a large-scale and long-term plan.

VNSC has sent 36 young engineers to five leading Japanese universities to take master's courses in satellite technology, and directly design, manufacture and test MicroDragon satellites under the guidance of professors. Japan.

MicroDragon will be the first satellite product officially produced by a team of Vietnamese scientists and engineers. This satellite is 50x50x50cm in size, weighs about 50kg, is used to observe coastal waters for many purposes such as locating aquatic resources, monitoring changes in occurrences in coastal waters.

Practice assembling PicoDragon satellites with foreign experts - (Photo: NVCC).

After the hero Pham Tuan flew into space in 1980, the participation and initial success in satellite technology was the next start for many people's dreams in Vietnam: going into space.

Open up many applications

Mastering satellite technology opens up many development opportunities during the period of industrial revolution 4.0. According to Assoc. Prof. Pham Anh Tuan, artificial intelligence and Internet connection in the industrial revolution 4.0 created cohesion.

Some countries have applied the use of analytical results from rice field satellite images to calculate the necessary fertilizer rates for each area in the field, increase productivity and reduce costs .

Dr. Lam Dao Nguyen, director of the Center for Application of Vietnam Satellite Technology, analyzed: it is possible to deploy applications in the Mekong Delta to monitor the progress of seeding, rice growth across the region, from there. forecasting water demand for each region.

In addition, according to the head of VNSC, satellites still have many other important applications such as tracing oil spills, controlling ships going on the sea . Satellite images allow fast detection of ships. strange boats appear near and on Vietnamese waters .

Why not go buy?

"There are opinions that Vietnam is not enough, so invest in researching more practical items" - Mr. Pham Anh Tuan acknowledged doubts in the first day VNSC implemented the project.

"But the space satellite application is very close. Japanese experts have calculated that Vietnam lost about 1.5% of GDP annually due to natural disasters, equivalent to US $ 3 billion. If satellite images are available, it will be timely reported. where the storms, floods, flooding, help evacuate properly . Every year only 10% reduction in damage is equivalent to US $ 300 million, not including human damage " - Mr. Tuan said.

Answer the question "Why not buy from abroad like you did with Vinasat 1, Vinasat 2?" According to experts, if it was two days before buying or asking for satellite images of foreign countries, it would take only 6-12 hours to get satellites.

Associate Professor Pham Anh Tuan said that in addition to Vinasat 1 and Vinasat 2 satellites serving telecom, television and telephone business, Vietnam needs to have Earth observation satellites, thereby increasing the level of information security. .

Besides, the manufacture of satellites in Vietnam will pull other technology industries such as materials, mechatronics and automation."Space technology is a high-tech symbol of a country" - Mr. Tuan said.

Will make modern sensor satellites

The National Satellite Center has successfully developed PicoDragon satellite (1kg) and said that the NanoDragon (4-6kg), MicroDragon (50kg), LOTUSat (600kg) satellite projects are and will be deployed.

As planned, the first 2019 LOTUSat satellite will be launched. In 2022, satellite infrastructures for research, assembly, integration and testing will be available to advance LOTUSat-2 "made in Vietnam" satellites. With these two modern radar sensing technology satellites, Vietnam has the ability to observe the entire territory and national waters in all high-resolution weather conditions.

Have to go to the destination

VNSC's young engineers at Tohuku University, Japan - (Photo: NVCC).

To have today, the process of manufacturing satellites in Vietnam has gone through many hardships. In 2006, Dr. Pham Anh Tuan met the famous professor of mechatronics and aerospace technology, Mr. Robert H. Bishop, and was advised to go step by step and make a 1kg satellite first.

Mr. Tuan and his colleagues started to find a way to learn. American universities do not accept foreign students studying satellites. In 2007, Mr. Tuan and his colleagues cooperated with the Japan Aerospace Agency to launch the PicoDragon micro-satellite project.

One year later, the Japanese agreed to receive five Vietnamese officials to train, but the state funding was only enough for two. Mr. Tuan withdrew his accumulated pocket money after years of working in Germany to afford enough money for five people to go."Japanese friends rented a house in the dormitory, we cook for our own savings . Out of the five people who went to school in Japan in 2008, except for one person, the other four are pillars of the center " - Mr. Tuan said.

In 2013, the micro-satellite PicoDragon became the "made in Vietnam" satellite first successfully operating in orbit - Mr. Tuan recalled. "The ultimate goal is that LOTUSat-2 satellite will be assembled and designed completely in Vietnam and launched in 2022, officially marking Vietnam as the master of satellite manufacturing technology" - Associate Prof. Dr. Pham Mr. Tuan shared.