Online conference summarizing the National Science and Technology Program on Space Technology period 2016-2020

The space science and technology program plays a very important role in the strategy, that is, through the development and implementation of scientific research topics and tasks on space technology, a team of researchers and highly qualified people will be trained, create space science and technology products on par with the region and the world, as a premise for successful implementation of the Strategy, making space technology an important tool for socio-economic development, defense and security assurance.

Following the success of the National Independent Science and Technology Program on Space Technology in two previous period (2008-2011 and 2012-2015), on April 12, 2016 the Minister of Science and Technology signed Decision 838 on approving the objectives, contents and expected products of the Space Science and Technology Program (period 2016-2020), in which the VAST is assigned to organize the implementation and management.

The four goals of the 2016-2020 period Program include: (1) Promote research and application of telecommunications technology, remote sensing, geographic information system and global positioning satellite system for socio-economic development; ensuring national defense - security; monitor natural resources, environment, natural disasters and climate change on the basis of effective exploitation of space technology infrastructure which has been invested and cooperated internationally; (2) Actively integrating and cooperating internationally in research, mastering the technology of designing, manufacturing, assembling and testing a number of key devices and modules in sub-modules of small earth observation satellites, ground station technology and technology to launch small satellites into low orbit, receive and transfer satellite technology with advanced countries; (3) Promote selective basic research in space science and technology with potential application and suitability to Vietnam's conditions, contributing to the training of human resources for the field of space science and technology, continue to form a number of strong research groups on the basis of exploiting scientific and technological achievements in the world; (4) Contributing to the content orientation of the National Strategy on space technology for the period 2020-2030 vision to 2040, in which focusing on building and perfecting the legal framework on space technology, commercialize products and gradually form a market in the field of space technology.

The approved main contents of the Program for the 2016-2020 period include the following 5 points: (1) Researching and applying space technology for socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security; (2) Development of small earth observation satellite technology, ground station technology and other related technologies; (3) Application-oriented basic research related to space science and technology; (4) Researching and formulating space science and technology development policies; (5) Support technology transfer and research results of space science and technology into practical application.

To summarize the results achieved after 5 years of implementing the National Science and Technology Program on space technology period 2016-2020, with the permission of VAST’s President, on September 27, 2021, at Hanoi, Board of Directors and the Program Office held an online conference to summarize the National Science and Technology Program on Space Technology period 2016-2020.

Attending the conference were Mr. Bui The Duy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Dao Ngoc Chien - Deputy Director of the Department of High Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology; Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tam - Colonel, Deputy Director of Department B05, Ministry of Public Security; Mr. Chu Hoang Ha - Vice President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; Board of Directors and Chief of Office of Space Science and Technology Program period 2016-2020; together with representatives of leading agencies and scientists participating in the implementation of the Program.

Opening the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doan Minh Chung, Director of the Space Science and Technology Program period 2016-2020, reported on the results of the Program's implementation in the 2016-2020 period. It can be said that the Program has closely followed the goals, contents and expected products set by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Despite many difficulties and challenges, the projects under the Program have strived to fulfill the approved objectives, content and products as planned.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Doan Minh Chung reported the program's summary

The total number of projects implemented in the Program is 38 science and technology projects. Of which 06 projects have been implemented since 2016; 16 projects implemented since 2017; 15 projects have been implemented since 2018, 01 project has been implemented since 2019. The topics are divided into 3 directions, namely, 03 basic research-oriented projects related to space science and technology (8% of the quantity, 6% of the budget); 08 topics towards the development of small earth observation satellite technology, ground station technology and other related technologies (21% of the volume, 37% of the budget); 26 projects in the direction of researching and applying space technology for socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security (68% of the quantity, 55% of the budget); In addition, there is a legal topic to develop the Draft Space Strategy to 2030 (3% of the quantity, 1% of the budget).

Regarding the force to implement the Program, there are 25 units participating in the lead organization from Research Institutes, Universities, Ministries, Sectors and Defense - Security. A total of more than 900 scientific staff participated in the implementation of the Program, in which, professors and associate professors accounted for 4%, PhDs accounted for 40%, MSc accounted for 50%, KS/CN accounted for 6%. The number of trained staff of the Program is 36 doctors, 75 masters and 9 engineers/bachelors.

After 5 years of implementing the Program, the typical products achieved by the Program in 03 directions are as follows:

(1) Typical products obtained in the direction of application-oriented basic research related to space science and technology include:

• Nutritional supplements of natural origin, in order to prevent and overcome adverse factors for living organisms in the space environment. The project is led by Dr. Trinh Thi Thu Huong, chaired by the Institute of Natural Compound Chemistry;
• Calculation model of solar radiation energy using geostationary satellite data with climate model in Vietnam conditions. The project is led by MSc. Nguyen Tien Cong, chaired by Vietnam Space Center;
• 3D clinostat microgravity simulation system. The project is led by Dr. Le Thanh Long, chaired by the Institute of Tropical Biology.

(2) Typical products achieved in the direction of developing small earth observation satellite technology, ground station technology and other related technologies:

• TV-02 Research Missile (Sounding Rocket) includes engine system, body aerodynamic equipment, stage cutter, rocket launcher, control software, onboard equipment system (payload) and a system of scientific instruments for measuring high-level atmospheric parameters. The project is led by Major General, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Lac Hong, chaired by the Military Technical Academy.

Image of rocket launch to low orbit and overall structure of TV-02 research rocket

• Hexapod-type tracking antenna system for earth observation satellites. The Hexapod-type tracking antenna system includes 01 parabolic antenna and 01 controlled reflector array antenna, capable of receiving/transmitting signals to control earth observation satellites. The project is led by Dr. Ngo Duy Tan, chaired by the Institute of Space Technology.

Hexapod texture image for satellite tracking antenna and S band parabolic antenna

• High frequency subsystem for Micro satellites. The project is led by Dr. Ta Son Sut, chaired by Hanoi University of Science and Technology. The high-frequency subsystem includes: antenna, S-band transceiver, X-band transmitter for Micro satellites weighing about 50 kg for earth observation applications.

Complete S-band transceiver circuit

• A dedicated mobile communication system that relays satellites to serve remote areas, islands and emergencies. The project is led by Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Minh, chaired by the Post and Telecommunications Institute of Technology.

Installation of components

• Transceiver and signal processing in satellite communication system using FSO radio optical communication technology. The project is led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hoai Bac, and chaired by the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology.

FSO equipment after assembly

• Nano-sized micro satellite. The project is led by MSc Vu Viet Phuong, chaired by the Vietnam Space Center.

Photo of mechanical structure design

• L-band ultra-high-frequency spectrometer and optical payload in the visible, near-infrared range compatible with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for remote sensing research. The project is led by MSc. Nguyen Van Hieu, chaired by the Institute of Space Technology.

Photo of testing the L-band ultra-high frequency street in the field

• 01 hot air balloon carrying the instrumentation system, released into the stratosphere at an altitude of 20km to 34km above sea level, capable of being used many times; 12 equipment system is integrated on HAPS, capable of stable operation in stratospheric environment conditions; 03 Ground station and central data processing; 03 Mobile data transceiver stations; 10 Sample sets of personal rescue communication equipment. The project is led by Assoc. Dr. Pham Hong Quang, and chaired by the Center for Informatics and Computing.

Drop Radiosonde HAPS 2 device to maintain uptime and ground station receiver antenna

(3) Typical products achieved in the direction of application of space technology to serve socio-economic development and ensure national defense and security include:

• 24 datasets and database of research areas are built and operated on the basis of high resolution satellite data, especially VNREDSat-1 satellite data in the field of natural science, serving national defense and security as well as the management of the agricultural sector;
• 17 models and processes for effective application of space science and technology are proposed to serve socio-economic development, defense - security, scientific research and training;
• 13 WebGIS systems used in management and monitoring of natural resources, environment, natural disasters, water quality, land cover, forest,  air pollution level, on the basis of application of satellite image data and remote sensing technology.

In addition, the number of works published in domestic and foreign journals and conferences is 258 articles, of which 51 articles are in journals of the list of SCI and SCI-E, 19 articles in other international journals, 91 articles in domestic journals and 97 papers at conferences; 04 monographs; participated in training 36 doctorates, 75 masters and 9 engineers/bachelors; There are 07 applications for intellectual property patents and useful solutions for the Program's products and all have been published and accepted.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Chu Hoang Ha, Vice President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, speaks at the conference

Speaking at the Conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha, Vice President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology highly appreciated the results of the Program. He emphasized, in the Strategy for development and application of Space Science and Technology to 2030 of the Prime Minister issued on February 4, 2021, the continued implementation of the Space Science and Technology Program in the new period is very important. On that basis, VAST believes, with the close attention and direction of the Government; the coordination and companionship of the Ministry of Science and Technology and other ministries; responsible and enthusiastic participation of organizations, individuals and scientists; and the determination of management staff at all levels, the key Science and Technology Program on Space Technology in the period 2021 - 2030 will soon be implemented and obtain good results.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy speaking at the conference

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy expressed his delight at the results achieved by the Program, especially those related to the application of space technology to life, the results of using photos satellite, remote sensing, as well as the development of small earth observation satellites, from the design of small satellites to the design of transceiver stations. The obtained results show the research efforts of Vietnamese scientists, and especially the efforts of VAST to maintain the implementation of the Space Science and Technology Program. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology said that space technology is the crystallization of all top-notch technologies. Vietnam is not a leading country in the world in terms of economic potential and space science and technology research, but we have achieved results to master and maintain research and development space technology, as well as ensure certain conditions to receive the latest technology in the world and apply it in practice, thereby developing some of our own products. At the conference, Deputy Minister Bui The Duy congratulated the Executive Board of the Space Science and Technology Program 2016-2020 for completing its tasks and suggested continuing to improve and propose ways to organize the implementation of the Space Science and Technology Program in new period, and congratulate all scientists participating in the program for certain results.

Taking event photo

To sum up, the Space Science and Technology Program period 2016-2020 has completed the approved goals, contents and products. Scientific tasks selected for implementation have high science and technology content, meeting the urgent needs of research, implementation, and application of aerospace technology to solve urgent problems of science and technology, economy - society, defense - security, contributing to improving research and development capacity in a number of fields, such as small satellite technology for earth observation, ground station technology, rocket technology and other related technologies. A lot of results and products of the Program have been put into practice and transferred and trained to institutions and localities, especially in the field of remote sensing and GIS.

Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version