Vietnam’s first telecommunications satellite, VINASAT-1, is in the final stages of testing and is set for launching on April 19

VINASAT-1 has already been transported to the European Space agency's Kourou Space Centre facility in French Guiana. It is now undergoing exhaustive final tests that will take some four to five weeks to complete. Thereafter it will be mounted on an Ariane 5 rocket ready for launch.

The final tests are being conducted by the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, and the French launching service provider Arianespace.

The Ariane 5 rocket will loft both Vietnam’s VINASAT-1 and Brazil’s Star One C2 satellites into orbit. Star One C2 arrived at the Kourou Space Centre on February 25 and it too is undergoing final testing.

The main investor in VINASAT-1 is Vietnam Telecoms International (VTI), a subsidiary of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group. It is accelerating the marketing and sale of services on Vietnam’s first satellite and has been negotiating with several prospective local clients.