Vega rocket carrying VNREDSat-1 satellite launched into space
At exactly 9:06:31, the Vega rocket carrying Vietnam's first earth observation satellite VNREDSat-1 was launched into space.
Satellite launch tracking scene
Exciting until the last minute
Compared to the original plan, the VNREDSat-1 remote sensing satellite was launched into space on May 4, but the official launch schedule of this satellite had to be postponed by three days due to unfavorable weather at the Kourou spaceport, French Guyana.
The live broadcast and welcoming ceremony for this event was organized by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in collaboration with Astrium Company of the European Aerospace Corporation (EADS) on the morning of May 7.
Images of the satellite design and manufacturing process carried out simultaneously by both Vietnam and France show the crystallization of high technology in Vietnam's first earth observation satellite project.
The image of the rocket ready to launch into space on the screen excited scientists and space technology enthusiasts who attended the ceremony directly.
At 9:00 a.m. - about 6 minutes before the launch schedule - Mr. Bui Trong Tuyen - head of the project management board said that all technical parameters had turned green, indicating the Vega rocket's readiness to launch, only the weather factor was still in orange standby status.
However, just a minute later, all the lights indicating the missile's readiness status turned green. The entire large hall of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology erupted in excited applause.
The VNREDSAT-1 project has a total investment of 55.8 million Euros, from official development assistance loans from the French Government and 65 billion VND in counterpart funds from the Vietnamese Government. Vietnam's first Earth observation satellite will be launched into orbit by Arianespace Company using a VEGA rocket from the Kourou spaceport, French Guyana. Arianespace Company has also successfully launched two Vietnamese telecommunications satellites, Vinasat 1 and Vinasat 2.
“Historical moment”
At exactly 9:06:31, the Vega rocket was launched into space. After about 2 minutes, the lowest fuel stage separated from the rocket. The next fuel stages were separated one by one.
At the 9th minute, the missile's altitude was around 280 km, with a speed of 7.8-8 km/s. The higher it went, the faster the missile's speed increased. At the 12th minute, the missile's speed remained stable at around 7.96 km/s and its altitude reached 300 km.
The VEGA rocket used in this launch is a new type of rocket, developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). With the function of observing and taking pictures of the Earth's surface, Vietnam's VNREDSat-1 satellite will have a working orbit that is very different from the telecommunications satellites that we have put into orbit before.
Vietnam's 115-kilogram VNREDSat-1 satellite will leave the rocket after 1 hour, 57 minutes and 24 seconds of liftoff. After that, VNREDSat-1 will move itself to the designated orbit to become operational.
According to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the VNREDSat-1 remote sensing satellite is located in a polar sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), allowing the satellite to move globally and is capable of taking optical images of all areas on the Earth's surface from an altitude of approximately 663 km.
According to Dr. Bui Trong Tuyen, the first signal from the VNREDSat-1 satellite will be received at 2:30 p.m. on May 7. Two days later, Vietnam will be able to receive the first images of the Earth from the VNREDSat-1 satellite. Images of Vietnam's territory will likely be available and published on May 10. The trial operation phase to evaluate and calibrate the equipment on the satellite will last for the next three months.
According to plan, at about 11:20 a.m., the VNREDSat-1 satellite will officially separate from the rocket and fly into orbit.
According to Tuoi Tre - TH
