Satellite builders

At the Institute of Space Technology (VN Institute of Science and Technology), there are very young people who are struggling to wrestle with diagrams, modules to do a very ' far-away ' thing: making satellites. The goal of Vietnam to build satellites is gradually becoming a reality with a micro satellite that will be completed in 2009.

The research of satellite manufacture at the Institute of Space Technology (Hanoi) is divided into two groups, the first group studied small satellites (under 500kg), the second group studied micro satellites. Vietnamese people who directly make devices think only in developed countries are under 28 years old.

Vietnam satellite research group with Korean scientists (Photo: TTO)

Entering the only 20m ² working room of Dr. Bui Trong Tuyen, the leader of the small satellite group, seeing the middle of the room is a small satellite frame erected with a full structure of solar cells, technical modules. Engineer Huynh Van Ngoc - 28, the author of the engineering design that went to Korea to study - said: 'Manufacturing, then controlling satellites between space is not something everyone wants to do, so when available chance, i join now. When I went to Korea to study directly, watching them as satellites, even though it was difficult, I tried to design based on the collected documents. I didn't expect to do it. '

Structure modules, modular flight control modules, camera modules, energy modules ., which are the most frequently mentioned words in the micro-satellite manufacturing group. Because this place not only stops at the model, each member of the research team has started to work and is preparing the final details so that the frame of the real satellite is 'born' before the 2008 Lunar New Year.

Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, deputy director of the Space Technology Institute, who is holding the micro-satellite manufacturing team, said: "Our Pico-Dragon satellite will be 10x10x10cm in size, weighs nearly 1kg, When completed, take a picture of the Earth with low resolution and send satellite position parameters during operation '. 8X generation engineer Le Xuan Huy - technical officer of the project - said a micro-satellite was very close: in 2007, the design was completed, 2008 completed construction, 2009 will test the ground, 2010 will launch with Japanese H2A missiles under the cooperation program.

'However, there are many things to do from now on,' because Huy said, many electronic devices will have to be bought by foreign countries. But want to make satellites in Vietnam must have a 'clean room'. When this room was launched in 2008, the Space Technology Institute will have to build up to three models: the original model to run the control program, the technical model to test the strength and heat (must withstand -40 to 80 ^o C). The new flying model is the launch model. But the technical model will also have to do the same as the flight model so that when the satellite on the trajectory has problems, it can be considered immediately on the technical model.

Both the satellite manufacturing team has nine people and four collaborators who are four year students at the University of Technology (Hanoi National University) have all won the Robocon Prize. The working atmosphere in the group is always very urgent. According to Le Xuan Huy, it is not urgent to race against time, but passion.

Engineer Huynh Van Ngoc and small satellite model are expected to be finished in 2012 (Photo: CVK)

Being in the early stages of space technology, currently, in addition to the research period, two satellite manufacturing groups of the Vietnam Space Technology Institute often hold short-term classes for young people to light up. Bright passion for the universe.

According to Mr. Bui Trong Tuyen, the aim is that when qualified, Vietnam will have a team of skilled workers to start working immediately, catching up with satellite technology soon - although far away but very close if there is passion, dare to go turn off the new technology road. The long years of passion are about to be fruitful, the group is having a hard time describing the joy of being the first people to build satellites in Vietnam.

Small satellites have applications such as large satellites of the same type.Small satellites observe the Earth with an average resolution (32m), which can be used to monitor changes in natural resources, the environment and natural disasters.Small satellites can also address telecom and television needs such as large satellites for countries that need to use satellites less.If Vietnam makes small satellites for only about US $ 10-25 million (VinaSat's geostationary satellite price is about US $ 250 million).But most importantly, Vietnam can understand satellite manufacturing technology.

Currently, Vietnam is losing more than US $ 10 million each year to hire satellites to serve telecommunications, television and other needs.

CAT VAN KÌNH