Sci-Tech

Micro Dragon satellite to enter space in late 2018

Micro Dragon, a satellite made by Vietnamese engineers, is expected to be launched into space in late 2018, according to the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
Micro Dragon satellite to enter space in late 2018 ảnh 1The satellite development roadmap of Vietnam (Photo: VNSC)

Hanoi (VNA) – Micro Dragon, a satellite made byVietnamese engineers, is expected to be launched into space in late 2018,according to the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) under the Vietnam Academyof Science and Technology.

VNSC Director General Pham Anh Tuan saidJapanese authorised agencies are considering granting a safety licence forMicro Dragon so that it could be launched later this year. After receiving thelicence, it will be put into orbit by the Epsilon rocket, made by IHI Aerospaceof Japan.

Micro Dragon, an earth observation satellite,weighs 50kg and measures 50x50x50cm. It was created by 36 VNSC engineers whostudied space technology in Japan. They began creating the satellite in 2013,and it was tested successfully in 2017.

After going into orbit, it will observe coastalsea areas to assess water quality, locate fisheries resources, and monitorchanges in coastal waters to serve Vietnam’s aquaculture industry. It is alsoset to receive sensory signals from the ground and then transfer data to otherdistant places on earth, while testing new materials like atomic oxygen andantimony tin oxide coating solar cell.

Micro Dragon is the next step in Vietnam’s roadmap to gradually master satellite design and production.

Earlier, VNSC engineers had created Pico Dragon,a 1kg satellite measuring 10x10x11.35cm. It was launched into space in November2013 and has operated successfully.

After Micro Dragon, Vietnam plans to createLOTUSat-1 and LOTUSat-2 satellites, weighing about 600kg and measuring1.5mx1.5mx3m each.-VNA
VNA
#Micro Dragon #Vietnamese satellite #Vietnam National Space Centre #Epsilon rocket #earth observation satellite #satellite design and production #Pico Dragon #LOTUSat-1 #LOTUSat-2 #space industry #updated Vietnam news #Vietnamplus #Vietnam News Agency
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

New satellite data sharing system introduced

New satellite data sharing system introduced

The satellite data sharing system, Vietnam Data Cube, has been introduced in the country, promising a satellite image database for Vietnamese earth observation satellite data users.

See more

A site for constructing Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant in Thai An village, Vinh Hai commune, Khanh Hoa province. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, IAEA expand cooperation in peaceful nuclear applications

Vietnam is implementing 19 cooperation projects with the IAEA in different areas, including agriculture, healthcare, nuclear safety and security, and physical and chemical sciences. The initiatives demonstrate how nuclear technologies can contribute to socio-economic development.

At the BCEC headquarters (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, RoK deepen startup ecosystem connectivity

Both sides agreed that Vietnam-RoK startup cooperation must pivot from fact-finding tours, trade shows and short-term networking towards a hard-nosed partnership model that delivers concrete market access, business partner matchmaking, product validation, technology piloting and investor connectivity.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man presents VinFuture awards 2025 to scientists. (Photo: VNA)

VinFuture's global science network delivers lasting value for Vietnam

Via conferences, expert dialogues, networking and inspirational talks, VinFuture has brought many of the world's leading scientists to Vietnam not just to share knowledge, but to co-design research, advise on talent pipelines, and build practical solutions for the country’s most urgent problems.

Plant breeding research at Tra Vinh University (Photo: VNA)

PM orders faster implementation of science, technology, digital transformation agenda

Under Directive No. 29/CT-TTg, the Prime Minister instructed ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and provincial and municipal leaders to treat science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as a top political priority, stressing that faster disbursement must go hand in hand with efficiency, transparency and the prevention of waste and corruption.

The conference highlights emerging technologies shaping the future of stroke treatment. (Photo: VNA)

Robot- and AI-driven advances in stroke care introduced at Can Tho conference

Experts are introducing six-dimensional (6D) cerebral vascular imaging for treatment planning, AI-assisted stroke imaging, and robotic intervention and rehabilitation. They are also presenting next-generation neurointerventional devices and personalised treatment strategies to shorten treatment times, improve survival rates, and reduce long-term disability.

A product is showcased at the exhibition area during AI Day 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam strengthens position in Asia’s AI trade landscape

HSBC (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) identifies Vietnam as the economy that has recorded the fastest improvement in its position within the AI supply chain. The country’s share of global trade in AI-related equipment surged from 1.2% in 2015 to 12.4% in 2025, the strongest increase worldwide during the period.

The Nam Dai Duong youth cooperative, based in Nghia Hung commune of Ninh Binh province, uses unmanned aerial vehicles for rice seeding. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Expert proposes 3 strategies for Vietnam to develop strategic technology products

Dr Ta Anh Phuong, CEO of Seinetime, a French technology start-up specialising in data personalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, said Vietnam's strategic technology goods should pass a global relevance test and strive to achieve strategic indispensability, making them products that international corporations actively seek to incorporate into their operations.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung (right) receives Professor Tran Thanh Van, President of the Rencontres du Vietnam Association and Director of the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE), in Hanoi on July 15. (Photo published by VNA)

ICISE urged to strengthen role in advancing Vietnam's science

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung expressed his hope that Professor Tran Thanh Van, the Rencontres du Vietnam Association and ICISE would continue serving as bridges between Vietnam and the international scientific community, attracting leading researchers and making practical contributions to the country's scientific and technological progress.

More than 40 scientists, young researchers and students from seven countries gather in Gia Lai province on July 15 for the 10th Vietnam School on Neutrinos. (Photo: VNA)

Gia Lai province hosts 10th Vietnam School on Neutrinos

During the event, participants receive both fundamental and advanced training in particle physics and neutrino science through lectures covering neutrino physics, the Standard Model, particle and radiation detectors, reactor neutrino experiments, high-energy neutrino astronomy, supernova neutrinos, and major international projects such as Super-Kamiokande, T2K and Hyper-Kamiokande.

A medical worker gives guidance to a mother on how to care for a newborn in Ta Ca commune, Nghe An province. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader unveils people-centred vision for new development model

Vietnam's growth model, long fueled by low-cost labour, resource extraction, contract manufacturing, expanded investment, and capital accumulation, has run out of road. The country now needs a sweeping reform agenda to shift from extensive growth to a model driven by productivity, knowledge, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Youth union members in Bu Gia Map commune help local residents complete administrative procedures. (Photo: VNA)

Digital governance transforms life in border commune of Dong Nai city

A year after adopting the two-tier local administration model, Bu Gia Map, a remote border commune in the southern city of Dong Nai with a significant ethnic minority community, has experienced notable improvements in public administration, making digital public services more accessible to residents and boosting governance efficiency.

Individuals and organisations should strengthen data protection measures in the digital economy. ( Photo: nhandan.vn)

Experts recommend risk-based data governance to strengthen legal protection

In the first quarter of 2026, more than 6.9 million accounts were exposed, double the figure recorded in the same period last years. Stolen personal data has frequently been exploited in sophisticated online scams, particularly impersonation schemes targeting victims through fake relatives or acquaintances.

The exhibition combines digital technology, simulation models and hands-on activities to help the public gain knowledge of information security in an engaging and easy-to-understand manner. (Photo: VNA)

Interactive "Cyber Security Wall" exhibition spreads digital safety awareness in Hanoi

Through a series of display areas, visitors can explore notable scientific and technological achievements of the People's Public Security Force in safeguarding national security in cyberspace. The exhibition also provides information on common forms of online fraud and cyber scams, along with practical guidance on how to identify and prevent them.