PM urges Japan to help Vietnam launch first radar satellite in 2025

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged Japan to accelerate key cooperative projects with Vietnam, including the launch of Vietnam’s first home-built radar satellite into orbit in 2025.

The satellite project, expected to significantly enhance weather forecasting capabilities, is one of many flagship initiatives symbolizing the strong partnership between the two nations. Chinh made this statement during a meeting with Japanese corporate representatives on Saturday.

The LOTUSat-1 Project
The satellite, known as LOTUSat-1, is part of a project initiated in 2012 with Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), aimed at disaster prevention and climate change mitigation.

Weighing 600 kilograms, LOTUSat-1 is equipped with advanced radar technology, capable of detecting objects as small as 1 meter on the ground. It can also observe day and night, making it a valuable tool for various applications.

Once operational, the satellite will provide critical data for:

Disaster response and mitigation
Climate change adaptation
Natural resource management
Environmental monitoring
Unlike optical satellites, radar satellites like LOTUSat-1 can capture images in all weather conditions, including cloudy, foggy, and low-light environments. This capability is particularly beneficial for Vietnam, a country frequently affected by cloud cover and extreme weather.

Strengthening Vietnam-Japan Space Cooperation
In 2023, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) signed an agreement to study feasibility for further scientific cooperation in space technology.

This partnership involves:

Sharing expertise in operating and utilizing LOTUSat-1
Managing the Vietnam Space Center
Exploring collaboration on satellite imagery data
Vietnam and Japan have cooperated in space technology since 2006, resulting in the successful development and launch of three Vietnamese microsatellites:

PicoDragon
NanoDragon
MicroDragon
With LOTUSat-1, Vietnam continues to strengthen its position in space technology, furthering its commitment to scientific research and disaster management with Japan’s support.