Vietnam will be deploying its own earth observation satellite, the LOTUSat-1, in 2023. This will be Vietnam’s first satellite, using the latest sensor and radar technology for weather, natural resource monitoring, and disaster prevention and control.
The Vietnam National Space Center signed a contract with the Japanese Sumitomo Group to develop the LOTUSat-1. The satellite will weigh 600 kilograms and be designed by NEC, a Japanese multinational information technology and electronics company. This project will be fully-funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a low-interest Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan, estimated at USD 184 million.
LOTUSat-1 will be able to capture visual data and images to predict weather and to survey the resulting damages on ground. The government is also planning to bid out a second satellite which NEC and Sumitomo will also likely pursue.
(Sources: Nhan Dan Newspaper, Saigon Online, Nikkei Asian Review)
