The satellite was launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket along with Japan’s JCSAT-13 satellite on May 16 from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.
VINASAT-2 is being tested by manufacturer Lockheed Martin before being handed over to Vietnam Telecom International (VTI), a subsidiary of VNPT, in July.
On April 19, 2008, Vietnam’s first communications satellite, VINASAT-1, was put into orbit at 132 degrees east. To date, approximately 90% of VINASAT-1’s capacity has been utilised.
Following the success of VINASAT-1, the Prime Minister approved the VINASAT-2 project in 2009 at a total cost of US$300 million.
