Vietnam interested in cooperation in developing Earth observation satellites
On 23/04/2024, the delegation of Thales Alenia Space Italy (belonging to Thales Group) led by Mr. Massino Comprinni – CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italy visited and worked with Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST). At the reception was Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh – President of VAST, Dr. Le Quynh Lien – Director of International Cooperation Department, Dr. Bui Trong Tuyen – Director of Institute of Space Technology.
Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh and Mr. Massino Comprinni
At the meeting, Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh said that at present, the field of space science and technology is an area that the Vietnamese Government is very interested in and prioritizes for development. In 2006 the Government approved the "Strategy for research and application of space technology to 2020" and then in 2021, the Government continued to approve the "Strategy for development and application of space science and technology to 2030".
Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh shared that VAST has succeeded in Vietnam's first Earth observation satellite project VNREDSat-1. The satellite launched in 2013 has now been operating for nearly 11 years in orbit (originally designed to have a lifespan of 5 years). As the unit assigned to manage and operate VNREDSat-1 satellite from 2013 to now, VAST has implemented research and data application of VNREDSat-1 satellite, effectively contributing to science and technology research tasks; contributinge to preventing and mitigating natural disasters, ensuring national security and defense.
Accordingly, the VAST President proposed that the two sides jointly propose potential cooperation opportunities in building a new Earth observation satellite project in Vietnam to both ensure the continuity of existing data sources and inherit human resources, infrastructure of the previous VNREDSat-1 satellite.
Mr. Massino Comprinni introduced to VAST about the existing capabilities of Thales Alenia Space Italy and the potential to support Vietnam and VAST in the construction and development of future satellite projects.
CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italy emphasized that Thales looks forward to exploring opportunities to cooperate with the Government of Vietnam and VAST in the "Strategy for development and application of space science and technology to 2030", especially exploring cooperation opportunities for Vietnam's next Earth Observation Satellite project program. Mr. Massino Comprinni expressed his desire to learn about the requirements of the Vietnamese side for the new Earth observation satellite project (specifically VNREDSat-2), financial issues, and technical solutions,... and this will also be the basis for Thales Alenia Space Italy to establish a plan for satellite development cooperation for the two sides.
Overview of the meeting
The meeting included Mr. Massimo Comparini, CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italy; Mr. Giampiero Di Paolo - Vice President - Observation and Guidance of Thales Group; Mr. Nicolas Bouverot - Vice President - Thales Group Asia; Mr. Nicolas Bernardin - Country Director - Thales Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar; Mr. Ronald Massard, Sales Director, Thales Group Asia; Ms. Pham Thuy Linh - KAM Defence, Security and Space, Thales Vietnam. On the VAST side there were: Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh – President of VAST; Dr. Le Quynh Lien – Director of International Cooperation Department; Dr. Bui Trong Tuyen – Director of Institute of Space Technology; Mr. Dinh Thanh Trung – International Cooperation Department.
| Thales is an international Group with a presence in 68 countries, serving three key markets: Aviation & Space, Defence & Security, Identity & Digital Privacy. Thales Group's 2023 revenue is €18.4 billion. It invests €1.1 billion annually in R&D. Thales has been present in Vietnam since 1994, providing technological solutions in the civil and military sectors. In the field of space satellites, Thales has more than 40 years of experience as a global satellite manufacturer providing high-tech solutions for telecommunications, Earth observation and navigation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructure. In 2023, Thales Alenia Space Italy (part of the Thales Group) has won two major contracts in Europe and in the region, supplying Earth Observation Satellite Clusters combining high-resolution optical and radar satellites and high imaging frequency to the Government and Ministry of Defense. This is an innovative new constellation of satellites, based on instruments and sensor technologies ranging from microwave radar imaging to optical sensors at various resolutions and at different frequency bands, thus becoming a pioneering space program in the Earth Observation program. In addition, Thales Alenia Space Italy has also accumulated a lot of experience in technology transfer activities with programs that have been and continue to be implemented very successfully in Korea, Brazil and other countries. |
Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version
