Vietnam’s NanoDragon satellite set to enter orbit on October 7
“Made in Vietnam” NanoDragon satellite is scheduled to be launched into orbit on October 7, announced Assoc. Prof., Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, General Director of the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
The Epsilon 5 rocket on a launch pad. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – “Made in Vietnam” NanoDragon satellite is scheduled to belaunched into orbit on October 7, announced Assoc. Prof., Dr. Pham Anh Tuan,General Director of the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) under the VietnamAcademy of Science and Technology꧑.
The launchis slated to take place from 7:51.21 am to 7:55.16 am (Vietnam time), accordingto the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The solid-fuelEpsilon 5 rocket, expected to carry the NanoDragon satellite and eight othersinto the outer space, will be launched from JAXA’s Uchinoura Space Centre in thetown of Kimotsuki in south-western Kagoshima prefecture of Japan. JAXA onOctober 1 morning suspended the launch of the rocket some 19 seconds before thescheduled lift-off time. Accordingto the agency, a glitch occurred at ground radar equipment that monitors theEpsilon-5's position and speed, located near the rocket's launching pad. Itmight cause a problem in tracking the rocket, JAXA added. TheNanoDragon, a nano-layer cubesat satellite which weighs 3.8 kilogrammes, wasdeveloped by the VNSC. Thesatellite was delivered to Japan and tested at the Uchinoura Space Centre inKagoshima prefecture in August before being officially transferred to the JAXAfor launching under the second "Innovative satellite technologydemonstration" programme./.
Thirty-eight projects on aerospace technology have been approved in Vietnam with a total cost of 236.5 billion VND in the past five years, according to Associate Prof. Dr. Doan Minh Chung from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has cancelled the launch of its Epsilon 5 rocket, expected to carry Vietnam’s NanoDragon satellite and eight others into the outer space, on October 1, possibly due to technical problems. JAXA said it would announce the cause of the cancellation and a new launch schedule later.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, on October 1 morning suspended the launch of its fifth Epsilon solid-fuel rocket some 19 seconds before the scheduled liftoff time.
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According to the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, on making breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, this is considered a decisive factor in the development of nations. It is seen as a prerequisite and the best opportunity for Vietnam to become prosperous and powerful in the new era of the nation’s rise.
Vietnam’s demographic advantage, including a youthful population of 100 million in a “golden age”, further bolsters its ambitions. Its dynamic workforce, with a natural inclination toward science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), is a key asset in attracting private investment to innovation-driven sectors.
Vietnam views sci-tech as a decisive factor in national development and a key tool for achieving sustainable development goals, and is ready to boost sci-tech cooperation with Venezuela for mutual prosperity.
The Epsilon 5 rocket on a launch pad. (Photo: VNA) 
