Earth observation satellite launch due in May
(VOV) - Vietnam’s first optical earth observation satellite is scheduled to go into orbit on May 4 from a launch pad in Kourou, Guiana, France.
The Natural Resources, Environment and Disaster monitoring Satellite-1 (VNREDSat-1), has already been safely transferred to the launch pad, said Bui Trong Tuyen, chief of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology’s Small Satellite Management Board.
VNREDSat-1 is capable of capturing images of all areas on the earth’s surface. The project received 55.8 million Euro in French official development assistance (ODA) funding, with Vietnam contributing VND64.82 billion.
A special design feature of the satellite is its speed of photography and data transmission, helping experts monitor climate change and environmental disasters such as storms, floods, forest fires, and oil spills.
The satellite will also assist researchers to update their technology and increase the efficiency of data collection.