[Satellite Today 01-09-09] The Vietnamese government has chosen France to supply the technology for its second satellite, VNREDSat-1, Vietnamese press officials reported Jan. 8.
    Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said France also will provide $100 million in financial aid for the VNREDSat-1 project, scheduled to be operational in 2012.
    The satellite is slated to help Vietnam map its natural resources and provide information about the environment and natural disasters.
    The report did not specify which companies would build or launch the satellite.