NanoDragon is a 3U CubeSat built by the Vietnam National Satellite Center (VNSC). NanoDragon will use its automatic identification system (AIS) receiver to monitor vessels, and will also test the accuracy of its attitude control using an optical imager.[1][2] It carries an advanced OBC (on board computer) developed by Japan's Meisei Electric.
| Mission type | Technology demonstration |
|---|---|
| Operator | Vietnam National Satellite Center |
| COSPAR ID | 2021-102J |
| SATCAT no. | 49403 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 3U CubeSat |
| Bus | CubeSat |
| Manufacturer | Vietnam National Satellite Center |
| Launch mass | 3.8 kg (8.4 lb) |
| Dimensions | 10 × 10 × 34 cm (3.9 × 3.9 × 13.4 in) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 9 November 2021, 00:55 UTC |
| Rocket | Epsilon (No. 5) |
| Launch site | Uchinoura Space Center |
| Contractor | JAXA |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit (planned) |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 560 km (350 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 560 km (350 mi) |
| Inclination | 97.6° |
| Instruments | |
| Automatic Identification System (AIS) Optical camera | |
A project led by the Vietnam National Satellite Center, NanoDragon was manufactured by 36 Vietnamese engineers.[3] It was launched by Epsilon launch vehicle on 9 November 2021 as part of the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-2 mission.[4]
