Vietnam’s Lotusat-1 satellite is ready

Information was Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, General Director of Vietnam Space Center (VNSC), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, shared with VnExpress March 5.

The Lotusat-1 launch plan in February 2025 must be removed and there is no specific calendar, due to the unsuccessful test of Epsilon-S, the test missile on November 26, 2024.

“The Japanese side is considering continuing to use Epsilon-S after fixing or transferring other missiles,” said Assoc. Prof. Tuan said. He said VNSC is working with Japanese partners to determine the new launch day, ensuring satellite operations stable after launching in the shortest time.

At the seminar with large corporations and businesses of Japan on March 1, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the Government and Japanese enterprises continue to pay attention and promote the implementation of key cooperation projects, especially in the field of high technology, iconic in the relationship between the two countries. Typically, the project of satellite launch cooperation in orbit in 2025.

A team of Vietnamese engineers and experts has been sent to Japan to monitor the entire process of designing, assembling and testing satellite in the emulation environment, from the launch stage to operating in space. Assoc.Prof.Dr.

The manufacture of Lotusat-1 is one of the foundation steps for the development strategy and application of space science and technology until 2030; Improve the capacity of cadres to more autonomy in the field of space technology.

In Vietnam, the ground system was built in Hoa Lac Hi -Tech Park, Hanoi, including ground antenna with a diameter of 9.3 m to collect signals, control center, satellite operation and satellite data processing center. VNSC has received technology from Japan to operate this system. The satellite will perform the tasks that are ordered, the immediate focus are ministries, branches and agencies attached to the Government. Satellite data will be processed quickly, provide accurate information, support the authorities and people to respond promptly to emergency situations and serve socio -economic development, national security.

Lotusat-1 satellite belongs to the project “Prevention of natural disasters and climate change using satellites to observe the Earth”. The project was started in Hoa Lac Hi -Tech Park, Hanoi from September 2012, using ODA Japanese capital and reciprocal capital of Vietnam.

Lotusat- 1 has a weight of 600 kg, is the latest radar satellite with many advantages such as detecting objects size from 1 m on the ground, the ability to observe all day and night. The satellite will take photos and provide accurate information to respond to natural disasters, climate change, resource management and environmental monitoring.

In November 2023 Prof.VS.VS Chau Van Minh, Chairman of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and Prof. Yamakawa Hiroshi, President of the Japanese Space Agency (Jaxa) signed an agreement to conduct feasibility study in scientific cooperation in the field of space technology.

According to this cooperation, the two sides shared the experience of operating Lotusat-1 satellite exploitation in orbit, the experience of operating the Vietnam Space Center and finding a plan to share satellite image data.

Vietnam and Japan have been cooperating in the field of space technology since 2006. Under the support of Jaxa, VAST engineers have researched and manufactured three micro satellites “Made in Vietnam” including Picoden, Nanodragon and MicroDragon and has been successfully launched by Jaxa in orbit.