Vietnam satellite is about to leave the space station

FSpace Space Laboratory F-1 will leave the International Space Station (ISS) next Thursday, beginning the period of space operation.

>>>Vietnam satellite hits the space station

Mr. Vu Trong Thu, head of FSpace's research department, said Vietnam's planned self-made satellite will be released into space around 23:30 hours in Hanoi. Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide will control the robot arm to drop the satellites.

Model simulating small satellites including F-1 released
outer space with robotic arms. (Graphics: FSpace)

The F-1 was released from the ISS station at a speed of 5cm / s, in the direction of 45 degrees from the vertical and the opposite direction of the ISS station. This ensures that small satellites have a lower orbit and do not crash back into the ISS in later rounds.

30 minutes after leaving the arm of the ISS station, the F-1 satellite has just begun to perform the first tasks such as spreading the antenna, signaling, so as not to affect the operations on the ISS station. The F-1 will fly around the earth in orbit similar to that of the ISS, with a 92-minute cycle.

From the ground control station located in Hanoi, the FSpace team issued F-1 control commands to take pictures or collect data about magnetic fields and temperatures.

The small satellite F-1 is 10x10x10cm in size and weighs 1kg, researched and manufactured by FSpace. It was introduced into space on July 21 with four other satellites by the rocket of the Japan Aerospace Research and Development Agency (JAXA). This event opened a turning point in Vietnam's space science: for the first time a homemade satellite was put into space.

"If F-1 comes into operation, satellites can be used in ship surveillance in the South China Sea, prevention of oil theft at sea, assistance in search and rescue, early detection of forest fires or early serving the needs of telecommunications and other remote sensing " , Mr. Thu said.