The "made in Vietnam" satellite is prepared for launch into space
NanoDragon satellite has been moved from Noi Bai airport to Narita airport, Tokyo. After that, the satellite will be transferred to the Uchinoura Space Center launch site, Kagoshima Prefecture and handed over to the Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA) to prepare for launch into space.
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NanoDragon satellite was sent to Japan to prepare for launch - Photo: Vietnam Space Center
NanoDragon is a satellite designed and manufactured 100% in Vietnam and is a product in the development roadmap of small satellites "made in Vietnam" of Vietnam Space Center to implement the "Development and application of space science and technology to 2030" approved by the Prime Minister on February 4, 2021.
NanoDragon satellite is a nano-class cubesat satellite, weighing about 4 kg with a size of 3U (100 x 100 x 340.5 mm), developed by the Vietnam Space Center under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
The satellite is the product of the Project "Research, design, manufacture, launch and test operation of nano-sized microsatellites" under the "National Science and Technology Program on space technology in the period of 2016-2020”. The process of researching, designing, manufacturing, integrating and testing satellite functions is completely carried out in Vietnam, by research staffs of the Vietnam Space Center.
NanoDragon satellite was developed with the following purposes: Mastering the technology of developing small satellite systems of Vietnam; Testing the system and technology of micro-satellite beams that can receive signals and automatically identify ships (Automatic Identification System - AIS) to track and monitor vehicles at sea; complete calibration, quality control system and determine satellite posture. The NanoDragon satellite is expected to operate in a solar synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 560 km.
After completing the manufacturing, integration and functional testing process in Vietnam, from March 9 to April 9, 2021, the satellite has completed the pre-launch environment test at the small Satellite Test Center, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan.
After testing in Japan, the satellite returned to Vietnam for further improvement. In parallel with the satellite development, a ground station to operate the satellite after launch is developed and installed at the Vietnam Space Center, Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park. Currently, the ground station is ready to operate.
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The Made in Vietnam satellite development roadmap of the Vietnam Space Center
On August 11, the NanoDragon satellite was transferred from Noi Bai airport to Narita airport, Tokyo. After that, the satellite will be transferred to the Uchinoura Space Center launch site, Kagoshima Prefecture and handed over to the Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA) to prepare for launch into space.
Before NanoDragon, in January 2019, MicroDragon Satellite (50 kg) was made by a group of 36 staffs of Vietnam Space Center under the guidance of Japanese experts, was successfully launched into orbit and has been successfully launched and received satellite images.
In 2013, the PicoDragon (1 kg) micro-satellite manufactured by Vietnam National Space Center was also launched into orbit and received signals.
According to the Vietnam Space Center, Vietnam has gradually mastered satellite technology through the design and manufacture of micro-satellites and small satellites to satellites using the most advanced radar technologies (LOTUSat-1).
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