The first Made-in-Vietnam weather radar satellite has completed its design and manufacturing stages and is expected to be launched into orbit in early 2025, according to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).

The Japanese government anticipates launching the LOTUSat-1 around February 2025, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Space Center Le Xuan Huy said at a press briefing held by VAST on July 12.

According to the plan, after a three-month in-orbit test period, around June 2025, the LOTUSat-1 satellite will be handed over to the Vietnam Space Center for full system operation for five years.

The LOTUSat-1 satellite applies radar technology, enabling it to capture high-resolution images of the Earth under all weather conditions.

Images from the satellite will help to provide correct information to cope with climate changes and natural disasters as well as manage natural resources and the environment.