VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's first Earth observation satellite was successfully launched into orbit at 9.06am this morning, May 7.

Viet Nam's first Earth observation satellite was successfully launched into orbit at 9.06am this morning.— Photo Arianespace

 

The launch was postponed on Saturday due to bad weather, according to the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology.

The launch of the VNREDSat-1 - short for Viet Nam Natural Resources, Environment and Disaster Monitoring Satellite - was made by a Vega rocket from the European Space Centre in Kourou in French Guiana in South America.

The project costs USS$73 million in French official development assistance (ODA) and VND64.8 billion ($3 million) input from Viet Nam.

It is expected to enable Viet Nam to better monitor and study the effects of climate change, predict and take measures to prevent natural disasters and optimise the management of its natural resources.

The 120kg satellite was built by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company's Astrium and can take images of the Earth with a resolution of 2.5 metres.

VNREDSat-1 is Viet Nam's third satellite in orbit after the launches of two communications satellites Vinasat 1 and Vinasat 2 in 2008 and 2012.

Source: VNS