Japanese firms NEC Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. have reached an agreement to research and develop an ASNARO-2 satellite for Viet Nam.

ASNARO-2 satellite is capable of taking pictures at night and in cloudy weather (Photo: space.skyrocket.de)

The agreement marks Japan’s first ever export of an Earth observation satellite, according to Mainichi Shimbum newspaper.

Japan’s government hopes the agreement can lay a foundation for Japanese firms to expand into the global satellite market.

The 500-kilogram satellite is capable of taking pictures at night and in cloudy weather.

The satellite has the world’s highest resolution, facilitating data collection on natural disasters and plant growth.

The satellite is expected to launch in 2017.

(Source: VNA)