President Lai Ching-te said developing space technology is a national policy that enhances national security and citizens’ welfare during his May 15 visit to the Taiwan Space Agency in the northern city of Hsinchu.
The National Science and Technology Council said the president and Minister Wu Cheng-wen gained insight into the building of Formosat-8, Taiwan’s first homegrown satellite constellation. The council added that the first satellite, called FS-8A, is set to be transported to the U.S. in August for launch in October.
The president said that FS-8A would expand Taiwan’s remote sensing capacity and efficiency, and applauded the project for facilitating the advancement of domestic space industries. He thanked the team for their hard work and encouraged them as they continue working on environmental testing and post-test verification for the end of June in preparation for shipping and launch.
Over 80 percent of FS-8A’s key components were developed by domestic researchers, with more than 20 academic and industrial agencies jointly participating in the construction, Lai said. He called the newest satellite a showcase for Taiwan’s capacity to forge a space industry supply chain.
Wu also spoke, noting that FS-8A is the first part of the third phase of a long-term national space technology development initiative. Formosat-8 comprises six high definition and two ultra-high-definition remote sensing satellites, and is expected to be fully online in 2031.
TASA Director General Wu Jong-shinn indicated that FS-8A’s image resolution is an improvement on the Formosat-5 and will lead to breakthroughs in application, explaining that the satellite images could be used to improve land planning and disaster recovery management. (POC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
The National Science and Technology Council said the president and Minister Wu Cheng-wen gained insight into the building of Formosat-8, Taiwan’s first homegrown satellite constellation. The council added that the first satellite, called FS-8A, is set to be transported to the U.S. in August for launch in October.
The president said that FS-8A would expand Taiwan’s remote sensing capacity and efficiency, and applauded the project for facilitating the advancement of domestic space industries. He thanked the team for their hard work and encouraged them as they continue working on environmental testing and post-test verification for the end of June in preparation for shipping and launch.
Over 80 percent of FS-8A’s key components were developed by domestic researchers, with more than 20 academic and industrial agencies jointly participating in the construction, Lai said. He called the newest satellite a showcase for Taiwan’s capacity to forge a space industry supply chain.
Wu also spoke, noting that FS-8A is the first part of the third phase of a long-term national space technology development initiative. Formosat-8 comprises six high definition and two ultra-high-definition remote sensing satellites, and is expected to be fully online in 2031.
TASA Director General Wu Jong-shinn indicated that FS-8A’s image resolution is an improvement on the Formosat-5 and will lead to breakthroughs in application, explaining that the satellite images could be used to improve land planning and disaster recovery management. (POC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News