Vietnam is about to build a nearly 600kg satellite

Japan will, together with Vietnamese engineers, design and manufacture LOTUSat-1 satellite, which is expected to launch in 2023.

Vietnam Space Center under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and Sumitomo Corporation (Japan) signed a LOTUSat-1 satellite manufacturing and human resource training package, on the morning of October 18 in Hanoi. NEC Group will design, manufacture and train manpower at a satellite factory in Japan, then transfer technology to Vietnam. The design process took place together with the training of 86 trainees to practice manufacturing, operating and applying satellite images.

LOTUSat-1 satellite weighs 570kg, uses the latest radar technology with many advantages such as detecting objects from 1 meter in size on the ground, the ability to see both day and night. LOTUSat-1 satellite will take pictures and provide accurate information to respond to minimize the impact of natural disasters, climate change, resource management and environmental monitoring.

Vietnam's satellite development roadmap.(Photo: VNSC).

Speaking at the event, Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh expected Japanese and Vietnamese partners to implement an effective bidding package to bring LOTUSat-1 satellite into orbit by 2023 as planned. out.

He also said that the Ministry of Science and Technology is reviewing the results of the implementation of the "Space Technology Research and Application Strategy to 2020" and drafting a Space Strategy for the period after 2020. The implementation results of the project are one of the practical bases, serving the development of Vietnam's Space Strategy after 2020.

The package "LOTUSat-1 satellite, equipment and manpower training" under the project "Vietnam Space Center" was approved by the Government in 2009, a key national project. This is the first satellite observing project to be coordinated by a Japanese company using ODA loans under special terms for economic partners (STEP) from Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA).

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