Vietnam's LOTUSat-1 satellite is ready to enter orbit

The information was shared by Associate Professor Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, General Director of the Vietnam Space Center (VNSC), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, on March 5.

The plan to launch LOTUSat-1 in February 2025 had to be postponed and there is no specific date yet, because the Epsilon-S rocket test launch failed on November 26, 2024.

"The Japanese side is considering whether to continue using Epsilon-S after fixing it or switching to another type of rocket," Associate Professor Tuan said. He said VNSC is coordinating with Japanese partners to determine a new launch date, ensuring the satellite operates stably after launch as soon as possible.

At a discussion with large Japanese corporations and enterprises on March 1, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Japanese Government and enterprises to continue to pay attention to and promote the rapid implementation of key cooperation projects, especially in the high-tech sector, which are symbolic in the relationship between the two countries. A typical example is the cooperation project to launch satellites into orbit in 2025.

A team of Vietnamese engineers and experts was sent to Japan to monitor the entire process of designing, assembling and testing the satellite in a simulated environment, from the launch stage to its operation in space. Associate Professor Tuan identified these as key steps to receive and gradually master the technology, a valuable opportunity for VNSC to gain practical experience in large-scale industrial production and improve its specialized knowledge.

The construction of LOTUSat-1 is one of the steps to lay the foundation for the Strategy for development and application of space science and technology until 2030; improving the capacity of staff towards greater autonomy in the field of space technology.

In Vietnam, the ground system is built at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, Hanoi, including a 9.3 m diameter ground antenna for signal reception, a control center, satellite operations and a satellite data processing center. VNSC has received technology from Japan to operate this system. The satellite will perform assigned tasks, focusing initially on ministries, branches and agencies under the Government. Data from the satellite will be processed quickly, providing accurate information, supporting authorities and people to respond promptly to emergency situations and serving socio-economic development and national security.

LOTUSat-1 satellite belongs to the project "Prevention of natural disasters and climate change using Earth observation satellites". The project was started at Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, Hanoi in September 2012, using Japanese ODA capital and Vietnam's counterpart capital.

LOTUSat-1 weighs 600 kg and is the latest radar technology satellite with many advantages such as detecting objects from 1 m in size on the ground, the ability to observe day and night. The satellite will take pictures and provide accurate information to help respond to natural disasters, climate change, resource management and environmental monitoring.

In November 2023, Professor Chau Van Minh, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and Professor Yamakawa Hiroshi, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) signed an agreement to conduct a feasibility study in scientific cooperation in the field of space technology.

Under this cooperation, the two sides will share experiences in operating the LOTUSat-1 satellite in orbit, experience in operating the Vietnam Space Center, and find solutions to share satellite image data.

Vietnam and Japan began cooperation in the field of space technology in 2006. With the support of JAXA, VAST engineers researched and manufactured three "Made in Vietnam" microsatellites including PicoDragon, NanoDragon and MicroDragon, which were successfully launched into orbit by JAXA.