Viet Nam Set to Launch First “Made in Viet Nam” Radar Satellite in 2025
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: The Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology has announced that Viet Nam is poised to launch its inaugural “Made in Viet Nam” radar satellite, the LOTUSat-1, into orbit in early 2025. Scheduled for completion in May, the satellite is anticipated to enter space between December 2024 and February 2025, with an operational lifespan of five years.
Le Xuan Huy, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Space Centre, shared that the 570kg LOTUSat-1 will have the capability to detect objects with widths as small as one meter on Earth. The primary focus of the satellite is to gather crucial information that can aid in mitigating the impact of natural disasters, particularly the annual storms that affect Viet Nam.
The ground control system for the launch is slated to be finalized by September this year at Hanoi’s Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park. Funded through Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) and Viet Nam’s capital, the satellite’s fabrication commenced in 2019 at the Vietnam National Space Centre.
To ensure readiness for the satellite’s launch, the centre is organizing technology transfer classes on radar satellite image processing, aiming to prepare both technological infrastructure and human resources in various sectors and units.
The LOTUSat-1 joins the ranks of Viet Nam’s space assets, alongside the efficiently operating VNREDSat-1, the country’s first optical Earth observation satellite. Launched successfully on May 7, 2013, the VNREDSat-1, weighing 120kg, has surpassed its initially designed duration, continuing to provide valuable satellite imagery for national security, economic development, social initiatives, research, and training.
Viet Nam’s advancements in space science and technology align with the government’s strategic vision, as outlined in the 2021-approved strategy for the development and application of space science and technology until 2030. The strategy aims to widely apply space science and technology achievements, master the technology of designing and manufacturing optical and radar sensors for Earth observation satellites, foster market development, support startups, and gradually shape Việt Nam’s space industry.
