'Made in Vietnam' satellite sends first signal to Earth
As of 10:00 a.m. (Japan time) on January 19, one day after being launched into space, the MicroDragon satellite had made three contacts with the ground station at ISAS/JAXA and the control center at the University of Tokyo.
In the first signals sent back by the satellite, the equipment on the satellite was operating normally as designed. According to the plan, the satellite will enter a stable operating state in about one to two weeks, earlier than expected.
Previously, at exactly 7:50 a.m. on January 18, Japan's Epsilon rocket launchedMicro Dragonalong with six other Japanese satellites launched into space from the Uchinoura Space Center, Japan. At about 8:55 a.m., about 1 hour and 5 minutes after launch, Micro Dragon separated from the rocket in the sky over Cuba.
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| In the first satellite signals sent back, the equipment on the satellite operated normally as designed. |
According to Associate Professor Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, General Director of the Vietnam Space Center, MicroDragon is designed to operate in space for at least one year but can operate stably for two years. Currently, the satellite is being controlled by the ground station system of the University of Tokyo, ISAS/JAXA and Tokyo Denki University, in Japan. The operation will be carried out by a team of Vietnamese engineers.
Micro Dragon satellite was designed by a team of 36 Vietnamese masters studying aerospace at 5 leading universities in Japan since 2013, and completed assembly, manufacturing and testing in September 2017. The design and manufacturing of Micro Dragon was initially for training purposes. However, upon completion, Micro Dragon was launched into space by JAXA for free, after passing a strict inspection process.
Micro Dragon weighs about 50kg, and measures 50 x 50 x 50 cm. After being launched into space, Micro Dragon's mission is to observe coastal waters to assess water quality, locate aquatic resources, and monitor changes in coastal waters to serve the Vietnamese aquaculture industry. Detect cloud coverage and aerosol properties to serve atmospheric correction. Collect sensor signals on the ground and then quickly transfer this data to distant locations on Earth. Test new material technology (Atomic oxygen, Antimony Tin Oxide Coating Solar cell).
| After an hour of leaving the launch pad, the MicroDragon satellite successfully separated from the rocket and began its mission in orbit. |
According to the Vietnam Space Center, Micro Dragon satellite images will be the basis for exchanging satellite data with the global micro community to enhance the ability to respond quickly in activities such as natural disaster prevention and climate change. Micro Dragon images can also be used to combine data with existing remote sensing data to find new applications or improve the quality of old applications.
Micro Dragon is the next step in the process of gradually mastering and mastering satellite design and manufacturing technology in Vietnam. Previously, engineers at the Vietnam Space Center successfully manufactured the Pico Dragon microsatellite (10 x 10 x 11.35 cm in size, 1 kg in weight).
This satellite was launched into orbit in November 2013 and successfully operated in space. After Micro Dragon, Nano Dragon satellite is being researched and developed in Vietnam by a team of engineers and experts from VNSC. Nano Dragon is tasked with testing technology for controlling the direction of satellites in orbit and receiving signals for automatic identification of ships.
