The Hanoitimes - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is keen to promote cooperation in space technology between Vietnam and the US.

NASA Administrator Charles F.Bolden made the statement at the meeting with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) to review the results of cooperation between the two nations in this field over the years.

His visit to Vietnam is a follow-on to the signing of an agreement o­n civil aviation and space cooperation in last December.

During the working session, both sides discussed the possibility of cooperation in the areas of common concern such as sharing SAR data and earth observation data from Vietnam’s remote sensing satellite (VNRedSat) and training VAST human resources   for earth technology, applied science programmes o­n natural disaster warning.

The focus of discussion was o­n programmes o­n global positioning satellite system and verification, exchange of earth technology scientists and practical application in earth observation.

During talks with Vietnamese scientists and space technology students the same day, the NASA chief shared experience in space technology research, cooperation and development orientations in the future.

From now through 2030, NASA will develop modern space technology with the aim of bringing people to Mars and developing unmanned aircraft.

NASA has so far signed more than 600 cooperation documents with many nations and Japan is currently its biggest partner, he said.

Bolden expressed hope that Vietnam and the US will further increase cooperation in space technology, geophysics, astronomy, especially in the applied planet technology to observe natural resources, the environment and natural disasters.