Vietnam micro-satellites complete the task

After more than 3 months of stable operation in orbit, PicoDragon has gradually decreased in height and burnt when falling into the atmosphere of the earth, marking the initial success in the roadmap for satellite development in Vietnam.

>>>Vietnam micro-satellite makes its first signal from the universe

"The PicoDragon event entered the atmosphere and caught fire as the design life. The first micro-satellite manufactured by Vietnam completed its mission" , Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, Director of Satellite Center The country (VNSC), under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), said.

The PicoDragon (third from right) satellite is put into orbit and begins to signal to Earth.(Photo: VNSC)

PicoDragon entered the universe in August last year thanks to the transport ship HTV4 from Tanegashima Space Center. In mid-December 2013, the satellite was launched from the International Pillar Station. For more than three months in orbit, satellites have operated relatively stable and continuously broadcast advertising signals as "PicoDragon VietNam" newsletter to earth stations around the world.

From this success, Tuan said, it is expected that in 2016, VNSC will develop satellites larger than nanoscale (about 10kg) and micro-sized satellites (about 50kg) in 2017, satellites observe the earth first. First weighing 500kg in 2020.

Pico Dragon has a size of 10 x 10 x 11.35cm, volume of one kg, is a product developed by a team of young engineers and researchers of VNSC. The mission of the satellite is to take photos of the earth, measure some satellite parameters and the cosmic environment by satellite sensors and test ground communications.