The Japanese government is set to provide loans of up to Y45bn (US$567m) to Vietnam to help the country develop its space exploration programme, according to local reports.
This is the first time that Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA)…
The Japanese government is set to provide loans of up to Y45bn (US$567m) to Vietnam to help the country develop its space exploration programme, according to local reports.
This is the first time that Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme for developing countries has been used for space purposes. The funds – which will go towards the creation of an Earth-based space centre, two observation satellites and the training of engineers – will reportedly allow Japanese companies, including NEC and Mitsubishi, to secure contracts for a potential satellite launch by Vietnam.
One of the two satellites will be made and launched in Japan, using an H-2A rocket, in 2017. The other satellite will be manufactured by Japan-trained engineers from 2019 for a planned launch in 2020, according to The Yomiuri Shimbun.
The decision to help fund Vietnam’s space exploration programme has been encouraged by Seiji Maehara, Japan’s foreign minister, who is looking to promote the country’s position in the space technology and infrastructure exports markets, the reports wrote. The country, which has reportedly only exported one satellite so far, is looking to deliver five to ten such satellites to foreign countries by 2016.
Several countries are already involved in Vietnam’s space projects, in particular France.
Astrium announced in August 2010 that it signed a €55.2m contract with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) for the development, manufacture and launch of an Earth observation optical satellite system, VNREDSat-1.
“This follows on from last November’s intergovernmental agreement on space co-operation between France and Vietnam, in which the French government affirmed its commitment to building a closer partnership with Vietnam in the domain of science and technology,” Astrium wrote in a statement at the time.
In the meantime, Vietnam is pushing ahead with the construction of Vinasat-2 satellite, after Vietnamese telecom incumbent Vietnam Post and Telecommunications (VNPT) secured a VND1.09 trillion (US$56m) loan from state-owned Vietnam Development Bank in November, according to reports.
US aeronautical manufacturer Lockheed Martin had been contracted to build the bird, scheduled to be launched in the second quarter of 2012. Vinasat-2 will carry 24 Ku-band transponders that cover Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. It will be placed at the 131.8E orbital position.
Lockheed Martin had already built Vinasat-1, which was launched in 2008.
