The Vietnam National Space Center, developed with official development assistance (ODA) from Japan, was inaugurated on March 13 with the participation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The nine-hectare facility, with a total investment of VND7,000 billion ($266 million), includes an operations center, a satellite data exploitation and application center, a research and development center, a ground system equipped with a 9.3-meter antenna, and a human resources development center, among other facilities.

The national space center aims to establish infrastructure for technology transfer related to Earth observation satellites while also training a skilled workforce. Another key mission is to enhance Vietnam’s capacity for disaster prevention, climate change response, resource management, and environmental monitoring.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that Vietnam aims to reach a moderately advanced level in space science and technology in Southeast Asia by 2030. Beyond 2030, the country seeks to strengthen its self-reliance in satellite technology.

He also requested that the center launch the LOTUSat-1 satellite in late 2027. The 600-kilogram Earth observation satellite was jointly developed by Vietnam and Japan and was originally scheduled for launch in 2025. However, the failure of Japan’s Epsilon-S rocket delayed the mission.

In addition, the Prime Minister urged Vietnamese and Japanese businesses and universities to continue expanding collaboration in the space industry. He added that the Vietnamese government would continue to provide support through policies, training, and financial assistance.

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