Vietnam to launch first radar satellite

Sharing more information about the LOTUSat-1 satellite, Dr. Le Xuan Huy, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Space Center, said that the Japanese Government expects the satellite to be launched around February 2025. According to the plan, after 3 months of testing in orbit, around June 2025, the LOTUSat-1 satellite will be handed over to the Vietnam Space Center to operate the entire system for 5 years.

In preparation for satellite exploitation after launch into orbit, the entire ground equipment system including the satellite control and operation center and the satellite data application center has been installed at the Vietnam Space Center in Hoa Lac since May 2024. It is expected that this system will be handed over in September 2024 to receive the first signal of the satellite.

LOTUSat-1 satellite model. Photo: NEC.

Previously, Vietnam signed a contract for the “LOTUSat-1 satellite, equipment and human resource training” with Sumitomo Corporation (Japan). The LOTUSat-1 satellite weighs about 570kg and uses radar technology to take high-resolution images of the earth in all weather conditions, day and night. The project also trains highly qualified human resources, helping Vietnam gradually approach and master the technology of manufacturing satellites with larger mass.

Dr. Le Xuan Huy said that the satellite can take pictures in all weather conditions, so it is very suitable for a country with cloudy and foggy meteorological conditions like Vietnam. Therefore, the Vietnam Space Center hopes that data from this satellite can contribute a lot to Vietnam.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, General Director of the Vietnam Space Center, Vietnam is one of the countries most affected by global warming and climate change in the world . Space services and technologies will be the key to better understanding the process of climate change and supporting the entire cycle of monitoring and preventing natural disasters. Thereby, contributing to minimizing the impact of natural disasters caused by natural disasters and climate change.

Associate Professor Pham Anh Tuan added that space technology continues to develop strongly in the world. Each country has a different approach to space technology. Vietnam chooses to gradually master space design and manufacturing technology instead of buying satellite images from abroad.

This path takes a lot of time and effort, but according to Associate Professor Tuan, this approach is suitable for Vietnam's conditions, meeting the requirements of developing and protecting the country during the 4.0 industrial revolution, when high technology, information, and data become competitive weapons between countries.

Nguyen Hoai