Vietnam’s NanoDragon satellite pass final tests before launch in Japan
Made-in-Vietnam satellite NanoDragon underwent final tests in Japan on August 16-17 before its launch into orbit by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), according to the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC).
3U Cubesat NanoDragon passed the tests and was handed over to the JAXA at the launch pad of Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, said Dr Pham Anh Tuan, director of the VNSC.
The micro satellite is expected to be put into orbit by the end of 2021.
3U Cubesat NanoDragon was developed by the VNSC researchers under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology as part of the “Nano-class satellite development, launch and trial operation” project. Its design, integration and functional tests were conducted entirely in Vietnam by VNSC researchers.
The NanoDragon is expected to operate in a sun synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 560 km. This satellite is designed to integrate an automatic identification system (AIS) used for tracking and monitoring vessels at sea.
It will also make use of an optical imaging device in order to verify the quality of the satellite posture controller while operating in orbit.
Besides NanoDragon, the Vietnam National Space Center built PicoDragon weighing 1kg which was launched into orbit and sent back signals in 2013.
In addition, MicroDragon, weighing 50kg was also built by a group of VNSC engineers under the guidance of Japanese experts. The satellite was successfully sent into orbit in January 2019 and it also sent back images afterwards.
