Taiwan plans to launch its first low Earth orbit communications satellite as soon as the middle of 2025, the National Science and Technology Council said yesterday.
The Taiwan Space Agency last year completed its initial systems review of the B5G project and expects to complete a review of a design model by the end of this year, the council said, adding that it would do a space-environment test next year.
“Taiwan already has the technical ability and experience required to manufacture small satellites, and, in the future, will be able to enter the international market,” the council said.
Photo provided by the Taiwan Space Agency
Throughout Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, satellites have greatly benefited Ukrainian forces, which has generated global interest in satellite research, the council said.
The agency began work on the B5G project in 2020 and plans to build two satellites at a total cost of NT$4 billion (US$131.23 million) to be launched in 2025 and 2026, it said.
The agency would also assist private companies with the launch of four satellites aimed at enhancing the nation’s mobile-communications industry, it said.
After defining the B5G’s system requirements in 2021, the council last year completed a preliminary system design review and this year is to focus on its key design communications payload, said agency researcher Tsai Tung-hung (蔡東宏), who leads the B5G project.
Satellite data transmission would follow the 800 megahertz standard and the system would have a maximum power demand of 1,600 watts, the council said.
The satellite’s “experimental payload 1” is planned to be 1m3 and weigh 360kg to 400kg, it said.
“The system inherits the research and development components of the Formosat series of satellites, and 80 percent of the system is being developed in-house,” it said.
The team was also working with the Industrial Technology Research Institute on the development of IC chips used by the communication payloads, and with National Cheng Kung University on the development of the reaction wheels used for the satellite’s three-axis attitude control, it said.
Many Taiwanese manufacturers are already part of the European and US satellite-supply chains, including Tong Hsing Electronic Industries Inc (同欣電), Universal Microwave Technology Inc (昇達科) and Gongin Precision Industrial Co (公準精密), it said, adding that Taiwan could easily establish a supply chain for its domestic space industry.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs was also offering subsidies to spur the development of the nation’s space industry, it said.
DEFENSE: The first set of three NASAMS that were previously purchased is expected to be delivered by the end of this year and deployed near the capital, sources said Taiwan plans to procure 28 more sets of M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as nine additional sets of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), military sources said yesterday. Taiwan had previously purchased 29 HIMARS launchers from the US and received the first 11 last year. Once the planned purchases are completed and delivered, Taiwan would have 57 sets of HIMARS. The army has also increased the number of MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) purchased from 64 to 84, the sources added. Each HIMARS launch pod can carry six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, capable of
TRAJECTORY: The severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday, and would influence the nation to varying degrees, a forecaster said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it would likely issue a sea warning for Tropical Storm Podul tomorrow morning and a land warning that evening at the earliest. CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said the severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving west at 21kph and packing sustained winds of 108kph and gusts of up to 136.8kph, the CWA said. Lin said that the tropical storm was about 1,710km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, with two possible trajectories over the next one
Tropical Storm Podul strengthened into a typhoon at 8pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, with a sea warning to be issued late last night or early this morning. As of 8pm, the typhoon was 1,020km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving west at 23kph. The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 119kph and gusts reaching 155kph, the CWA said. Based on the tropical storm’s trajectory, a land warning could be issued any time from midday today, it added. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張竣堯) said Podul is a fast-moving storm that is forecast to bring its heaviest rainfall and strongest
CRITICISM: It is deeply regrettable that China, which is pursuing nuclear weapons, has suppressed Taiwan, which is pursuing peace, a government official said Representative to Japan Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋) yesterday accused Beijing of interference after Taiwan’s official delegation to the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony in Japan was assigned seating in the “international non-governmental organizations [NGO]” area. “Taiwan is by no means an international NGO, but a sovereign nation that is active on the international stage,” Lee said. Lee and Chen Ming-chun (陳銘俊), head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Fukuoka, attended the ceremony in Nagasaki yesterday, which marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city. That followed Lee’s attendance at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday
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