Vietnam: Vietnam will launch its first remote sensing (RS) satellite in 2014. The satellite, called VNREDSat-1, will be designed and assembled using French technology in 2013, according to Associate Professor Doan Minh Chung, Head of the Space Technology Institute of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
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 EUR 55.8 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 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.
Source: VOVNews
