Promoting U.S-Vietnam Cooperation in Space Technology

24/04/2024

On March 27, 2024, Senator Mark Kelly visited visited and worked with the Vietnam National Space Center of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. The Senator was accompanied by Ms. Melissa A. Bishop – Deputy U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr. Jacob Peters, Senior U.S. Advisor; Ms. Marji Christian - Head of Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH); Mr. Christine Carr, Air Force Attaché; Mr. Barrett Bryson, Energy Expert; and Ms. Nguyen Thanh Tu – Room Specialist (ESTH).

Receiving Senator Mark Kelly, on the side of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Anh Tuan – General Director of Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC); Dr. Nguyen Hoang Duong – Deputy Head of International Cooperation Department; and staff who are heads/deputy managers and senior researchers of VNSC.

Overview of the meeting

At the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Anh Tuan introduced to the Senator and the delegation about the satellite model and outstanding activities of VNSC since its establishment. Especially the achievements achieved in cooperation agreements between VNSC and US partners over the past time.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Anh Tuan introduces satellite model to Senator Mark Kelly

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Duong thanked the US for contributing to the development of space technology of VAST and of Vietnam, and hoped that it would create a spillover in society.

Senator Mark Kelly expressed his pleasure to visit VAST/VNSC, while also sharing his experience as an astronaut working at NASA and on US space policy. Senator Mark Kelly added that his twin brother is also an astronaut and has made many videos introducing interesting phenomena in space. Finally, he highly appreciated the development of VNSC-VAST, and hoped that the scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries would deepen.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Anh Tuan and Senator Mark Kelly talk at the meeting

The two sides made proposals to build cooperation between the two countries on research and development of space science and technology; earth sciences; remote sensing; the U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue on Civil Space. At the same time, it contributes to promoting cooperation such as: signing the Framework Agreement between the United States and Vietnam on the peaceful use of outer space; STEM education and training partnerships. In addition, the Vietnamese side also proposed that the United States support samples for the Space Museum.