Vietnam hands over NanoDragon satellite to Japan to prepare to launch into orbit

17/09/2021

On August 17, 2021, NanoDragon satellite manufactured by Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), was officially handed over to the Japanese Aerospace Agency (JAXA) at the Uchinoura Space Center launch site, Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan. Before the handover, in two days of August 16-17, 2021, JAXA carried out final checks to ensure satellite launch safety, such as checking shape, size and power supply switching system.

According to the Japan Aerospace Agency, it is expected that the NanoDragon satellite will be launched into orbit before March 2022 under the program "Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration 2". Nine satellites will be launched together with Vietnam's satellite this time ,including:
- 01 main satellite is the RAISE-2 satellite of the Japan Aerospace Agency weighing about 100kg.
- 04 micro satellites, including:
●   HIBARI (55 kg) of Tokyo Institute of Technology.
●   Z-Sat (46 kg) of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
●   DRUMS (62 kg) of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
●   TeikyoSat-4 (52 kg) of Teikyo University.
- 04 cubesat class satellites including:
●   NanoDragon (3.8kg) of VNSC in collaboration with Meisei Electronics Co., Ltd.
●   ASTERISC (4kg) of Chiba Institute of Technology.
●   ARICA (1kg) of Aoyama Gakuin University.
●   KOSEN-1 (3kg) of Kochi National College.

All of these satellites will be launched by Japan's No. 5 Epsilon rocket. Detailed launch schedule will be announced by the Japan Aerospace Agency to partners.

The satellites will fly with NanoDragon into orbit under the program "Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration 2" (photo source: JAXA, caption: VNSC)

Information about NanoDragon satellite

NanoDragon (NDG) is a 3.8 kg nano-class cubesat satellite with standard dimensions of 3U (100 x 100 x 340.5 mm), developed by VNSC. 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 2016 – 2020”. The process of researching, designing, integrating and testing satellite functions is completely done in Vietnam, by VNSC's research staff.

The NanoDragon satellite was developed with the following purposes: Mastering the technology of developing small satellite systems of the Southern Institute; 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; Perfect calibration, quality control system and satellite positioning. The NanoDragon satellite is expected to operate in a solar synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 560 km.

NanoDragon satellite is 100% researched, designed and manufactured in Vietnam and is a product in the development roadmap of small satellites "Made in Vietnam" of VNSC and aims to implement the "Strategy for development and application of space science and technology until 2030" which was approved by the Prime Minister on February 4, 2021.

Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version

Tags: