SES Astra subsidiary SES Astra TechCom will participate in Vietnam's first public satellite project VINASAT-1.
The project, which is led by the Vietnamese Posts and Telecommunications Group, has Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) as the main contractor.
LMCSS has subcontracted SES Astra TechCom to deliver two satellite antenna systems in Vietnam for Telecommand, Telemetry and Control, as well as to provide training to the Vietnamese satellite operations personnel. SES Astra TechCom will work with HITEC Luxembourg to deliver the antenna systems in Hanoi and Binh Duong province. The antenna project is scheduled for completion in September 2007.
The training services for the future satellite engineers and technicians in Vietnam, on the other hand, will last between 6 and 12 months and will take place in Hanoi and Luxembourg. These are co-financed by the Luxembourg Development Cooperation.
VINASAT-1 is scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2008. The satellite will be used for telecom purposes.