Vietnam's first space satellite Vinasat-1 launches

William Atkins
Monday, 21 April 2008 18:11

Science - Space

After well over a decade of preparations, Vietnam’s first satellite, Vinasat-1, was launched successfully at 6:17 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Friday, April 18, 2008 (5:17 a.m. Vietnamese time Saturday April 19, or 2017 GMT Friday).


Vinasat-1 was launched by Arianespace from the Guiana Space Center (Centre Spatial Guyanais, CSG), near Kourou in French Guiana, with the use of a heavy-lift Ariane-5 ECA launch vehicle.

The Guiana launch facility is located on the northeast coast of South America. It is used by the European Space Agency and the European organization Arianespace.

The 2.6-ton telecommunications satellite was joined on the flight with a Brazil Star One C2 telecommunications satellite. Both satellites were placed in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) by the Adriane rocket.

Later Vinasat-1 was placed in geostationary orbit at a longitudinal position of 132 degrees east, as directed by international radio regulations of the Geneva, Switzerland-based International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Vinasat-1 will provide television, radio, and telephone services for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam). It was built by the U.S. company Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) for the Vietnam-owned Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), while the Brazilian Star One C2 satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space.

Brazil’s satellite will provide telecommunications, internet, and multimedia services for areas in South America.

Vinasat-1 and Vietnam used a reliable launch manufacturer and launch facility. Read more about what Vinasat-1 will do for Vietnam on the next page.