VNREDSat-1

Launch data: Designation  39160 / 13021B Launch date  07 May 2013 - 02:06 UT Launch site  Kourou, ELA-1 Launch vehicle  Vega Mission  Earth Observation, Imaging Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  690 x 692 km Eccentricity   Inclination  98.1 deg Period  98.4 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• The contract awarded by VAST – the national institution responsible for setting up Vietnam’s Earth observation space programme – relates to the VNREDSat-1a (Vietnam Natural Resources, Environment and Disaster Monitoring Satellite) and the corresponding ground systems. This programme is the result of an initiative by the Vietnamese government to create a space infrastructure enabling the country to better monitor and study the effects of climate change, predict and take measures to prevent natural disasters, and optimise the management of its natural resources. More generally, it will allow the country to advance its knowledge in the field of space engineering and benefit from the ensuing economic and technological growth to create new employment opportunities.
• The space system comprises an optical satellite capable of capturing images with a resolution of 2.5 m, the associated ground control, image receiving and processing stations, and a co-operation and training programme for the Vietnamese engineers. The image receiving and processing terminals will be integrated in Vietnam’s existing ENRMS monitoring station, a multi-satellite ground facility operated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
• Vega’s VNREDSat-1A co-passenger is an optical observation spacecraft built by Astrium on behalf of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. With a mass of approximately 120 kg., it will support the Vietnamese government’s initiative to create an infrastructure that enables better monitoring and studies of climate change effects, improves predictions and actions to prevent natural disasters, while also optimizing the management of its natural resources.

Satellite tracking: