Vietnamese and Japanese researchers test microsatellite PicoDragon before sending it to JAXA. Photo courtesy of VNSC

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Viet Nam National Satellite Centre (VNSC) has confirmed that the Vietnamese micro satellite Pico Dragon will be shipped to the International Space Station (ISS) early in August.

Its duties will be to capture images of the earth, collect space environment data and test communication systems.

The device, a 10 x 10 x 11.35cm cube, is the first of its kind developed by Vietnamese engineers and researchers for launching into space.

It will be launched from an H-IIB rocket from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Centre in Kagoshima prefecture.

VNSC is working with Tokyo University and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to test the satellite in space environment before launching it.

The satellite will be kept at the ISS for two to three months before being launched. — VNS