Vietnamese FPT Technology Research Institute (FTRI) will join the Japanese project on manufacturing the microsatellite No 2, called RISESAT, by taking the responsibility for making the electronic equipment which monitors the camera to observe the Earth with the resolution of 5m/pixels.

Two professors from Japanese Tohoky and Hokkaido Universities have had a working session with the officers from FTRI, the Space Technology Institute and the Hanoi National University, on the opportunity for Vietnamese scientists to join the manufacturing and application of a microsatellite (50 kilos – RISESAT) which bears a camera to observe the Earth with the resolution of 5m/pixels.

One of the topics for discussion was the possible applications of microsatellites in Vietnam. According to remote sensing experts, the photos to be taken by RISESAT 1 will not only show details of specific places, but can be also useful for the agricultural development. For example, the photos will allow to keeping watch over the development process of plants, or observe the changes of the forests, or discover the deforestation cases.

FTRI has been invited to join the manufacturing of the electronic equipment which monitors the camera with the resolution of 5m/pixels to be installed in the microsatellite.

On the visit to the space research laboratory of FSpace, the two Japanese professors highly appreciated the strong determinations and efforts by the members of the project on manufacturing FPT’s microsatellite F-1, who still have to work in poor conditions. The two professors wished success to the satellite project which has been scheduled to be launched into space by the end of 2011.

FTRI, FPT University and the Tohoku University’s Space Robotics Laboratory have signed a memorandum of understanding the Vietnamese side to join the manufacturing of the camera on RISESAT.

RISESAT is planned to be launched into the space by the end of 2013, and Vietnam will be able to share the time using satellite in accordance with its contribution to the project.

Leaders of FTRI said that this would be really challenging and a valuable opportunity for the institute to learn and improve its capability, in order to gradually localize the manufacturing of satellites and space equipments for Vietnam’s interests.

In 2010, the Japanese Government launched “Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology”, which aims to promote the research and development of the most advanced technologies. The program reserves a 4 billion yen budget (40 million dollar) for the development of microsatellites (less than 50 kilos).

It is a growing tendency in the world that big satellites (hundreds of kilos or several tons in weight) are being replaced with microsatellites, which  reduces the manufacturing costs and launching costs. Besides, the time needed to manufacture microsatellites can be shortened to two or three years.

The ambition of Japanese universities is to manufacture five microsatellites during four years from 2010 to 2013.

The microsatellite No 1 will have the duty of keeping watch over Arctic ice, to give warnings to the ships going into the region. The microsatellites No 3, 4 and 5 will form up a group of satellites to help strengthen the capability and advantages of microsatellites in comparison with traditional big satellites.

In the project on manufacturing the microsatellite No 2, called RISESAT, the Japanese side has called for the contributions from international partners.

Source: VNE