FPT plans to launch first satellite in 2011

FPT Group lately introduced its FPT Technology Research Institute on May 25, 2010. On this occasion, representative of FPT Aerospace Research Department (FSpace) said that his group was researching, making, and carrying out trial operation of F-1 satellite. The satellite carries several low-resolution cameras to take photos of the earth, along with measuring the temperature and magnetic sensors to study the space environment.

Some of the project goals for F-1 satellite include surviving in space environment for at least a year, taking low-resolution photos about the earth with transmission speed from satellite to earth of 1,200 bytes per second. After these requirements are met, the new satellite will be upgraded for other complicated functions such as taking photos of one megapixel or increasing transmission speed to 9,600 bytes per second
The F-1 satellite will also transmit a beacon using a modulated Morse code audio signal on FM carrier when it is not in range of the earth station in Hanoi. The satellite carries a COTS transceiver (using UHF frequency) from Microhard Systems to experiment with higher data transmission speed.

A breadboard model of the satellite has been built and the communication link has been tested at a range of 50 kilometres. The team is now working on the Engineering Model of the satellite and more tests are planned including shock, vibration and thermal tests.

The satellite will use amateur VHF and UHF frequencies.

Vu Trong Thu, head of FSpace team said the final model would be completed in 2010 and ready to be launched into the orbit in 2011.

In April 2008, Vietnam’s first satellite of Vinasat-1 was officially launched into the space. In early 2010, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved for Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) to become main investor of Vinasat-2 project, with estimated investment cost of $290-350 million. The second satellite was expected to be launched in the orbit in 2012.

Tags: FPT satellite, Vietnam technology