Astrium to develop satellite system for VAST

Astrium has signed a contract worth €55.2m (£45.9m) with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) for the development, manufacture and launch of an Earth observation optical-satellite system.

The space system comprises an optical satellite capable of capturing images with a resolution of 2.5m, the associated ground-control, image-receiving and processing stations, and a co-operation and training programme for Vietnamese engineers involved in the project.

The image-receiving and processing terminals will be integrated in Vietnam’s existing ENRMS (Environmental and Natural Resources Monitoring System) monitoring station, a multi-satellite ground facility operated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The satellite will be built in Toulouse by a team that includes 15 Vietnamese engineers.

Once operational, the Vietnam Natural Resources, Environment and Disaster Monitoring Satellite (VNREDSat-1) will be used to monitor and study the effects of climate change, predict and take measures to prevent natural disasters, and optimise Vietnam’s management of its natural resources.