Vinasat-2 (stylized all uppercase) is the second Vietnamese satellite to be placed in orbit. It was launched at 22:13 UTC on May 15, 2012 (5:13 am on May 16 in the Vietnam time zone) at the European Spaceport in Kourou in French Guiana in South America and entered orbit 35 minutes later. VINASAT is the national satellite program of Vietnam. The project aims to bring independence in satellite communications for Vietnam, besides other benefits such as enhancing national security, opening new economic opportunities, etc.

VINASAT-2

A rendering of VINASAT-2
Mission type	Communications
Operator	VNPT
COSPAR ID	2012-023B
SATCAT no.	38332
Mission duration	15 years
Spacecraft properties
Bus	A2100A[1]
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Launch mass	2,969 kilograms (6,546 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	15 May 2012, 22:13 (2012-05-15UTC22:13Z) UTC
Rocket	Ariane 5ECA VA206[2]
Launch site	Kourou ELA-3
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	132° east
Perigee altitude	35,782 kilometres (22,234 mi)
Apogee altitude	35,801 kilometres (22,246 mi)
Inclination	0.00 degrees
Period	23.93 hours
Epoch	27 October 2013, 18:17:43 UTC[3]

Vietnam hopes for some economic benefits from the telecommunications links that the satellite will provide. It will provide communication for fishermen at sea, deliver weather forecasts and ensure defence security. The satellite costs about US$280 million and weighing 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb), was constructed by US-based Lockheed Martin. It will be able to provide capacity equal to 13,000 channels of telephone/internet/data communications or 150 Television channels; greater number of sensor responses; and higher bandwidth capacity.

The Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite has 12 Ku band transponders and 8 C band transponders.