Made-in-Vietnam micro-satellite NanoDragon. (Photo:VOV)

The made-in-Vietnam sea observation satellite underwent vibration, shock, and thermal vacuum testing in a simulated pre-launch environment, the final steps in its hardware development, at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan.

"Space technology requires high-quality human resources, adequate infrastructure, and a long-term development orientation. It takes 5 to 7 years to build a satellite. If we don’t have a long term plan, it’s difficult to mobilize the human resources and necessary investment," said VNSC Deputy General Director Le Xuan Huy.

The NanoDragon satellite will operate in a solar synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 560 kilometers. Vietnam sent its first satellite into space in 2013. The one-kilogram PicoDragon remained in orbit for three months.