The Vietnam National Space Centre was inaugurated on March 13 at the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, marking a major milestone in Vietnam’s efforts to develop its domestic space technology sector.
The complex includes several key facilities such as an operations centre, a satellite data exploitation and application centre, a satellite research and development centre, a manufacturing facility and a ground system equipped with a 9.3 metre antenna. It also houses the Vietnam Space Museum, a multimedia centre and an international guest house.
The space centre forms a key component of the Vietnam Space Centre Project, the country’s first high-technology scientific initiative financed through official development assistance loans from Japan. The project aims to facilitate technology transfer and help Vietnam gradually master earth observation satellite technology.
Authorities say the centre will also strengthen disaster prevention, climate change response, natural resource management and environmental monitoring through the use of satellite and remote sensing data, supporting socio-economic development and national security.
Another major component of the project is the development and launch of LOTUSat-1, Vietnam’s first radar-based earth observation satellite using synthetic aperture radar technology.
The project has already completed its core satellite training programme in Japan, producing 36 master’s graduates in space technology. It also successfully designed and developed the 50 kilogram experimental satellite MicroDragon.
MicroDragon was successfully launched into orbit on January 18, 2019 aboard the Epsilon-4 rocket.
LOTUSat-1 has now been fully manufactured, while the associated ground systems have been installed and transferred. Operational staff have also received specialised training in Japan.
Pham Anh Tuan, director general of the Vietnam National Space Centre, said the project’s infrastructure and human resources are now ready to enter the operational phase and expand the application of space technology.
Vietnam has identified space technology as one of its 11 strategic technology sectors under a government decision issued by the prime minister. Priority areas include low-earth orbit remote sensing and telecommunications satellites, satellite ground control systems and unmanned aerial vehicles.