22 Oct
Micro-satellite MMSATS-1 (Lawkanat-1 in Myanmar name) has been built and it was transferred by its developers Hokkaido University and Tohoku University to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) yesterday for launching into the space. Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi joined the transfer ceremony online.
After explanation of Professor Mr Yukihiro Takahashi from the Hokkaido University about development of the satellite, Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi expressed thanks to the two Japanese universities for completion of the satellite during COVID-19 period. Myanmar will construct a ground station for use with a small satellite and a research lab at the Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University by the end of this year.
Seven academic staff members and seven students in the first batch of MAEU received online training on satellite building, satellite technology and space technology.
TheMMSATS-1 (Lawkanat-1) will be used for agriculture, forestry, urban planning, maritime sector, oceanology, exploration of minerals, weather, water sources and the mitigation of large-scale natural disasters.
The five-year programme from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2024 valued at 1,680 million yen, and it includes building two 50kg-class Micro-satellites, a small ground station, a research lab, 14 trainees for technical transfer programme and 7 academic personnel under the on-the-job training programme. After sending the satellite to the International Space Station in February 2021, it will be launched into Earth orbit in March.
Myanmar has scheduled to launch its second micro-satellite, Lawkanat-2 , in September 2023.
MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
