"Made in Vietnam" satellite comes into space

Micro Dragon, an earth observation satellite, weighs 50kg and measures 50x50x50cm (Photo: VNA)

It was created by 36 engineers at Vietnam Sapce Centre who studied space technology in Japan (Photo: VNA)

They began creating the satellite in 2013, and it was tested successfully in 2017 (Photo: VNA)

After going into orbit, it will observe coastal sea areas to assess water quality, locate fisheries resources, and monitor changes in coastal waters to serve Vietnam's aquaculture industry (Photo: VNA)

It is also set to receive sensory signals from the ground and then transfer data to other distant places on earth, while testing new materials like atomic oxygen and antimony tin oxide coating solar cell (Photo: VNA)

Micro Dragon was launched into space at 9:50 (Japanese time) on January 18 at Uchinoura Space Centre in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan (Photo: VNA)

Micro Dragon was launched into space at 9:50 (Japanese time) on January 18 at Uchinoura Space Centre in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan (Photo: VNA)

After Micro Dragon, Vietnam plans to create LOTUSat-1 and LOTUSat-2 satellites, weighing about 600kg and measuring 1.5mx1.5mx3m each (Photo: VNA)