Micro-satellite NanoDragon model (Photo: Trong Dat)

NanoDragon 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. NanoDragon is a CubeSat, weighing about 4 kg.

Associate Professor, Doctor Pham Anh Tuan, Director of the Vietnam National Space Center, said: “Countries always see space technology as a symbol of technological power. It’s very important in the far future, so we have to invest in a long-term strategy. We need to master manufacturing technology as well as other sectors.”

NanoDragon satellite is scheduled to be launched into orbit late this year together with 8 other satellites  at an altitude of about 560 km. 

After completing the manufacturing, integration and functional testing process in Vietnam, from March 9 to April 9, this year, the pre-launch test was performed at the Test Center for Small Satellites of the Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan. A ground station to operate the satellite after launch was installed at the Vietnam Space Center in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, Hanoi.

Previously, Vietnam Space Center developed 1-kg PicoDragon satellite, which launched into orbit and received signal in 2013 and another satellite, MicroDragon, weighing 50kg, which was successfully launched into orbit in January 2019 and has since sent back images.