VNREDSat-1 launched into orbit   Photo: VNA Vietnam’s first remote sensing satellite, VNREDSat-1, was launched into orbit at 9:06 am ( Vietnam time) on May 7 from the Kourou launch pad, Guiana, France.  The satellite was originally scheduled to be launched on May 4 but the plan was delayed due to strong wind and other unfriendly weather patterns at the Guiana Space Centre.  The launch was transmitted live from Kourou to a ceremony to mark the special event at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in Hanoi .  Prof. Chau Van Minh, the academy’s Chairman, described the launching as an important scientific and technological event that opens up a new development in Vietnam’s space technology following the success of two telecommunications satellites - Vinasat 1 in 2008 and Vinasat 2 in 2012.  VNREDSat-1 is capable of capturing images of all areas in the world and it is expected to assist efforts to deal with flooding, forest fire, oil overflow and other incidents quickly and effectively.  The VNREDSat-1 project has a total investment of 55.8 million EUR sourced by the French government's Official Development Assistance and the Vietnamese side's contribution of nearly 65 billion VND (around 3.2 million USD).  The satellite was designed and built by Astrium SAS, an affiliate of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).-vna