Vietnam will launch the third satellite in the second quarter of 2013

Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology signed a contract with Arianespace International Space Center to launch VNREDSat - 1A satellite - the third satellite of Vietnam was launched into space in the second quarter of this year.

According to Forrbes (USA), the satellite will now serve Earth observation activities to support scientific research and will be designed by the French Satellite Manufacturer Astrium Satellites. In the second quarter of this year, the satellite will be launched into space by the Vega Arianespace rocket and operating in orbit in sync with the Sun, about 670km from Earth.

A synchronized solar orbit means that the satellite will pass many of the same latitudes at the same time. That means that the satellite will observe the change in time of a point on the earth, based on bright image changes when the satellite rotates around the globe.

'We are especially proud that we can once again work with Vietnam, after successfully launching VINASAT –1 and –2' telecommunications satellites , Forbes quoted the Chairman and CEO. Arianespace Jean-Yves Le Gall.

"With this contract, for the fourth time we partnered with Vega and Arianespace to show that they can provide a perfect satellite launch service and match the requirements of this launch. We also want to thank you. Astrium and Vietnam have put their faith in us, we are very happy to work again with Astrium, after successfully launching their 5 satellites in the last 4 months of 2012.

The contract to produce and launch VNREDSat-1A satellite worth 71.8 million USD. Under this contract, Astrium will provide a satellite with a ground resolution of 2.5m, equipment for receiving information, satellite control, and training for Vietnamese engineers.

Accordingly, there will be about 15 Vietnamese satellite engineers trained at its satellite production facility in Toulouse (France).