Formosat-5 set for launch in August from California

2017/07/03

Formosat-5, an indigenously produced ultra-high resolution Earth observation satellite operated by Hsinchu City-headquartered National Space Organization, is set for launch Aug. 25 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Developed over the past six years in collaboration with more than 50 academic and industrial groups, Formosat-5 will be propelled into a 720-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Capable of taking 2-meter resolution panchromatic and 4-meter resolution multispectral images, the satellite’s primary functions include academic research, assisting in disaster relief operations and observing climate and environmental change attributed to global warming.

According to the NSPO, which is administered by the National Applied Research Laboratories under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Formosat-5 will take over from Formosat-2. Launched in May 2004, the high-resolution satellite has captured a steady stream of images over Taiwan, as well as other parts of the Earth.

Premier Lin Chuan said June 29 that Formosat-5 underscores Taiwan’s leading-edge science and technology capabilities and expertise. It is expected that the MOST will achieve more positive results going forward as it strives to further develop Taiwan’s prowess in space technology while cultivating world-class talents, he added.

Another component of the Formosat-5 mission is the Advanced Ionospheric Probe. Developed by Taoyuan City-based National Central University with the support of the Ministry of Education, the world’s smallest all-in-one space plasma sensor will document space weather and seismic precursors associated with strong earthquakes.

Established in 1991, the NSPO is dedicated to becoming a center of innovation for space technology in Taiwan, working to establish indigenous space technology and conducting domestic and international space programs.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=10&post=117712)