Vietnam to launch earth observation satellite

Vietnam will launch its first remote sensing satellite in 2014, according to the Space Technology Institute of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.  

The Head of the Space Technology Institute, Associate Professor Doan Minh Chung said that the satellite, called VNREDSat-1, will be designed and assembled using French technology in 2013.

The 130kg satellite will be capable of capturing earth images from almost 700km into space, to monitor and study the effects of climate change, monitor natural disasters and manage natural resources and the environment.

The VNREDSat-1 project has a total investment of EUR55.8 million sourced from the French Government’s official development assistance. The project will include the lease of a satellite launching pad and advisors to the project.

The launch of the satellite and an image receiving and processing station will save Vietnam expenditure on purchasing satellite pictures as well as information and data on storms, floods, forest fires and oil spills, he said.

The project will be carried out by the academy as part of its strategy on space technology application and research until 2020.

Earlier, with the cooperation of US aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin, Vietnam successfully launched the VINASAT 1 satellite to provide telecom services.