Vietnam will soon cooperate with NASA

According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Van Lang, during the first official visit of Vietnam to the US Aeronautics Agency (NASA), Vietnam asked NASA to assist in space technology. Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology, Space Technology Institute (CNVT) will soon have a general agreement on this cooperation.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, April 19-29, a delegation of Vietnam led by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Van Lang had an official visit to the US Aeronautics and Space Agency (National Aeronautics and Space). Administration - NASA).

This is Vietnam's first official visit to NASA. The delegation visited and worked at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC; NASA Goddard Space Center in Maryland and NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA has a total of 10 research centers, with an annual operating budget of nearly $ 20 billion.

Soon there is a cooperation agreement with NASA

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Ministry Nguyen Van Lang said, 'During this trip, the Vietnamese delegation asked NASA to support the construction of a legal system, to build the Law of the Universe in accordance with international law; consulting in building Vietnam Space Center in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park. NASA affirmed its willingness to cooperate with Vietnam and expected in November 2009 to send a delegation to work and exchange specific cooperation between the two sides. Therefore, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the Institute of Space Technology will soon have a general agreement on cooperation between Vietnam and NASA in the field of development and application of space technology '.

As part of the trip, the delegation also visited Mexico and placed a long-term relationship with the Mexican National University. According to a bilateral agreement, in September 2009, the National University of Mexico will transfer the technology of 'small satellite posture control simulation system' to the Space Technology Institute.

The first official meeting between Vietnam and the US on Space Technology at NASA Headquarters, Washington.Photo: Space Technology Institute.

Expanding international cooperation to develop space technology

According to Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Institute of aerospace technology, Vietnam has expanded international relations cooperation in space technology with Japan, France, Korea, Europe, India and ASEAN. With France, Vietnam has a cooperative project for manufacturing small satellites (VNREDSat-1), which is expected to launch in 2012. This is a satellite weighing 100 - 200 kg, with an earth observation function. to monitor natural resources and the environment, prevent natural disasters. This project has a loan of about 80 million USD, of which is ODA (Belgium) or from the Fund for emerging economic countries (France).

Notably, in June 2006, the Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology (VAST) and the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) signed a framework agreement on space technology with four contents: Developing small satellite technology; Development of remote sensing technology and application in natural resource management, environment and disaster reduction; Implementing scientific research cooperation on module (Kibo) of Japan on ISS international space research station; Developing human resources and facilities for space technology so that Vietnam can quickly develop independence and autonomy and international integration in this field.

On August 18, 2008, the Institute of Space Technology and the Advisory Group of the Foreign Trade Promotion Organization (JETRO) signed a cooperation agreement on the preparation of a feasibility report for the Research and Technology Development Center project. Hoa Lac universe uses Japanese ODA preferential loans. On April 22, 2009, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan made conclusions in Notice No. 134 / TB-VPCP on the implementation of the project to build the Space Technology Center located in Hoa Lac High-Tech Park (CNC). Expected, this project has a total investment of 350 million USD from Japanese ODA. This is one of three major projects agreed between the Prime Minister of Vietnam and the Prime Minister of Japan to aim at a strategic partner.

According to calculations by Japanese experts, if mastering space technology, forecasting work can reduce economic losses by 10%. Each year, the amount of damage caused by natural disasters in Vietnam is more than 1 billion USD. Thus, each year Vietnam can reduce losses due to natural disasters of hundreds of millions of dollars thanks to the development of space technology.

Latest information about cooperation between Vietnam and Japan

On 21-22 May, the Vietnamese delegation was invited by the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Van Lang to visit and work in Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government. In the framework of the visit, the VN delegation will participate in the Asian Future Conference and work with Japan on a number of projects, including the space technology project. Earlier, on May 13 and 14, the Japanese delegation visited and worked with the Ministry of Science and Technology and Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park. The Vietnamese side made clear to the Japanese delegation about the cooperation project between Vietnam and Japan as well as exchanging ODA issues. In consultations with Vietnam and Japan on ODA issues for 2009, the two sides exchanged views on this project, the Vietnamese side requested Japan to provide capital to Vietnam as soon as possible.