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Before handover, on August 16th and 17th, 2021, JAXA conducted final checks to ensure the safe launch of the satellite, including checking its shape, size, and power supply switching system during launch.
NanoDragon is a nano-sized cubesat satellite weighing approximately 4 kg and measuring 3U (100x100x340.5 mm). It is the product of the project "Research, design, fabrication, launch and test operation of nano-sized microsatellites" under the "National Science and Technology Program on Space Technology 2016-2020".
The NanoDragon satellite was designed and manufactured entirely in Vietnam.
The research, design, integration, and functional testing of this satellite were carried out entirely in Vietnam by researchers from the Vietnam Space Center (VNSC, under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology).
NanoDragon was developed to demonstrate that microsatellite cluster technology can be used to receive Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals for tracking and monitoring vessels at sea.
Vietnam's satellite technology development roadmap was developed by VNSC.
Additionally, this satellite is also designed to verify the quality of the control system, determine the satellite's attitude, and utilize a newly developed advanced computer specifically for small satellites. NanoDragon is expected to operate in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 560 km.
After completing the fabrication, integration, and functional testing process in Vietnam, from March 9th to April 9th, 2021, the satellite completed pre-launch environmental testing at the Small Satellite Test Center of Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan. Simultaneously with the satellite development process, a ground station for operating the satellite after launch was developed, installed, and is ready for operation at VNSC, Hoa Lac High-Tech Park.
The staff at the VNSC laboratory.
Prior to NanoDragon, VNSC had also successfully manufactured the PicoDragon nanosatellite (1 kg), launched it into orbit, and received signals in 2013. The MicroDragon satellite (50 kg) was successfully launched into orbit in January 2019 and has received satellite imagery.
