This information was recently shared by Mr. Tran Tuan Anh, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

“The LOTUSat-1 satellite has been fully designed and manufactured and is now awaiting Japan’s launch vehicle to be sent into orbit,” Tuan Anh stated.

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A simulation of the LOTUSat-1 satellite. Source: NEC

LOTUSat-1, weighing approximately 570kg, is equipped with radar technology capable of capturing high-resolution images of the Earth in all weather conditions, both day and night.

The data collected from LOTUSat-1 will meet Vietnam’s urgent need for imaging resources, providing accurate and timely information to respond to natural disasters and climate change, manage natural resources, monitor the environment, and support socio-economic development.

Dr. Le Xuan Huy, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Space Center (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), answered reporters' questions about the satellite launch plans. According to Dr. Huy, the launch is scheduled for February 2025 by the Japanese government.

Following the launch, the satellite will undergo a three-month trial period. After this trial on orbit, LOTUSat-1 is expected to be handed over to the Vietnam Space Center by June 2025. The process for Vietnam to fully operate the entire system is estimated to take about five years.

An important component of the LOTUSat-1 project is the ground system, which includes equipment used to control, operate the satellite, and transfer the collected image data to users.

In preparation for operating LOTUSat-1, ground equipment, including a ground station (with a 9.3m antenna) and the satellite operation control center, as well as the satellite data application center, has been installed at Hoa Lac.

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Dr. Le Xuan Huy, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Space Center. Photo: Trong Dat

This work began in May 2024 and is currently in the system integration and testing phase. It is expected that the system will be tested and handed over to Vietnam by September 2024.

Additional smaller components, such as the knowledge dissemination center, including a space technology museum and a telescope, are expected to be completed by December 2024 and gradually put into use. Infrastructure for research, development, assembly, integration, testing, and operation of small satellites under 180kg is expected to be completed by December 2025.

“This is the foundation for the Vietnam Space Center to implement a project to enhance Earth observation capabilities using small satellites, essentially building a constellation of small satellites Made in Vietnam,” said Dr. Le Xuan Huy.

Previously, in 2019, the Vietnam Space Center and Sumitomo Corporation (Japan) signed the contract for “LOTUSat-1 satellite, equipment, and human resource training” under the Vietnam Space Center Project.

The goal of the “LOTUSat-1 satellite, equipment, and human resource training” contract is to develop and successfully deploy the LOTUSat-1 Earth observation satellite using synthetic aperture radar sensors. This is a national key project with significant investment in science and technology.

Besides developing the LOTUSat-1 satellite, the contract also includes the implementation and operation of the Ground Station System, Satellite Operation Center, Satellite Data Exploitation Center, and information technology infrastructure.

The partner, Sumitomo Corporation (Japan), will also provide advanced satellite training and satellite image data application training for high-level human resources.

The LOTUSat-1 satellite was designed and manufactured by NEC Corporation. The training and technology transfer are being conducted at NEC Corporation's satellite manufacturing facility in Japan.

Trong Dat