Vietnam Working With Surrey To Build Microsats

File photo of Surrey's Tsinghua-1 microsat build for China's Tsinghua University Aerospace Centre

Hanoi - Feb. 14, 2001
Vietnam will build its own small satellites within the next decade the Vietnam News Agency reported Monday. The move follows initial feasibility studies undertaken jointly since 1999 by scientists of the British Surrey Space Research Centre and the Vietnam National Centre for Natural Science and Technology.

The project aim to design and build a series of small satellites, weighing between 100 and 200 kg. The purpose of the $20 million venture is to support the monitoring of Vietnam's natural resources and environment.

Surrey Space Research Centre Director Martin Sweeting affirmed his institution's determination to continue cooperate with Vietnam's centre in designing and manufacturing small satellites and training scientists at a seminar in Ha Noi on Feb. 9 reported Vietnam News Agency.

SPACEMART

China Microsat Performs Well; Nanosat Is Next

Beijing - August 22, 2000
China's first microsatellite Tsinghua-1 is performing without problems, says Tsinghua University here. On June 28 a Russian Kosmos-3M rocket launched the microsat from the Plesestk Cosmodrome in northern Russia to a polar sunsynchronous orbit of 700 km.