Interview with Dr. Pham Anh TUAN, Vice Director of the Space Technology Institute (STI), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), Chairman of PMU of the Vietnam Space Center
The APRSAF Secretariat conducted an interview with Dr. Pham Anh TUAN, Vice Director of the Space Technology Institute (STI), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), Chairman of PMU of Vietnam Space Center on the occasion of the IAC2009 held from 12 to 16 October, 2009, in Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Latest space activity of VAST
Cooperation with JAPAN will be one of the main topics. The Vietnam government officially approved the project developing the Vietnam Space Center and requested the Japanese Government to retain ODA funding. We are seeking support from the Japanese government because it will be a symbol of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.
STAR Program
With the technical support of JAXA, we have completed the first small satellite, PicoSat. In the next 3 years, we will send 2 young engineers every year to Japan for the STAR program.
Education program
We are looking to establish the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, including a new department of Aerospace Engineering.
Expectations for APRSAF
We are now joining the STAR and SAFE programs. I think the APRSAF should invite more countries, including South America. Since small satellites are important for developing countries, APRSAF should establish a new working group of small satellites.