Vietnam will produce satellite remote sensing

By 2010, Vietnam will be the first to participate in producing and launching remote sensing satellites. Since then, Vietnam will be more active in forecasting weather, stormy weather .

Institute of Space Technology Institute - Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Dr. Doan Minh Chung, said the Prime Minister officially decided to establish a leading research institute on space technology by the end of 2006. opened a new era for Vietnam's space technology.

* At this time, Vietnam has just established a research agency on space technology, is it too late, sir?

- Developing space technology is a pressing issue of our country today and cannot be later. By applying space technology in scientific research and production reality, life is very clear such as managing natural resources and environment, early warning of natural disasters, climate forecast, weather . , linking remote sensing in service of management, industrial production, agriculture, floods, droughts .

Looking at the countries in the region, space technology has developed very strongly. Even countries with similar economic levels such as Algeria, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand . also have their own satellites. They have worked for 10 years before Vietnam and in the past 10 years, these countries' technology industry has done a lot of work. Due to the late in the space industry, the Vietnamese space technology industry will catch up on the spirit of taking off in the direction of cooperation and technology transfer with foreign countries.

Dr. Doan Minh Chung (Photo: TTO)

* What are STI's specific objectives, which are the scientific benefits?

- Along with the establishment of STI, the Prime Minister has also approved the 'Strategy for research and application of aerospace technology to 2020' , which affirmed that space technology is one of the key technological directions. point. Accordingly, STI will design and assemble small satellites and in 2010 Vietnam will launch the first small remote satellite (weighing over 100 kg, 800 km high). At the same time, it will build image collection and processing stations.

Specifically, STI will manufacture its own ground stations, design and manufacture small earth observation satellites, master missile technology and technology, and train highly qualified staff. By 2020, try to launch some remote sensing satellites. With these satellites, we will have images of average remote sensing accuracy from 2.5 m to 10 m. At that time, Vietnam space technology industry will master the technology of manufacturing ground stations, self-fabricating competitive price ground stations .

The launch of remote sensing satellite will serve the research, meteorological and hydrological forecasting, natural resource and natural disaster monitoring (image of swirling clouds, wind direction, storm eye .), fire forest, security, national defense . that Vietnam currently has to buy satellite images of foreign countries with expensive prices. This initiative will be useful for early forecasting and warning, especially tsunamis, earthquakes .

* Can you talk about investment capital for remote sensing satellite production and localization rate?

- Currently, we cannot say exactly the amount of investment in production and satellite remote sensing. However, not less than a few dozen million USD. We will try to mobilize and attract funds and help from abroad in the development of space technology. As for the localization rate, STI is also in the process of reviewing and researching to select satellite technology, so there is no exact determination of localization rate. But STI will try to select technology that is appropriate to the level of competence, investment resources and must be effective.

* How will the training of space science researchers be conducted, sir?

- Currently, Vietnam does not have a formal training base on space technology. Therefore, in the coming time, STI will accelerate activities of cooperation with foreign countries, technology transfer and dispatch officials to study and foster in countries with developed technology industry such as Japan, Korea, Europe . Then, in the process of formation and development, STI will officially organize training of aerospace technology engineers.

The launch of small satellites is the first step in space technology and the goal of 2020 is to reach a fairly average regional level in research and application of space technology. In addition, the world sees a country with a highly developed technology industry through space technology. Therefore, Vietnam cannot stand outside. The aerospace industry will go into the field of science close to the reality of life-production.

THE STREET