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Second satellite's launch is proceeding on schedule

Taiwanese scientists will complete the system integration of the nation's second satellite, ROCSAT-2, and tests of its subsystems later this month, to ensure that the satellite will be launched on schedule by the end of this year, officials of the National Science Council said yesterday.

At the Hsinchu-based National Space Program Office (NSPO), scientists and engineers are busy integrating the 760kg low-earth-orbit remote sensing satellite. The satellite's primary mission will be to acquire images of the terrestrial and marine environment throughout Taiwan, its remote islands and surrounding ocean for civil applications.

In addition, the satellite will also carry a `Sprites Imager' scientific instrument to study the electrodynamical coupling between thunderclouds and the upper atmosphere by taking images of lightning discharges.

Yesterday, the NSPO revealed its successful development of ROCSAT-2's Image Processing System, which has been developed over 26 months. Officials said the system will be combined with a front-end X-band antenna to form a complete satellite-image data-receiving and processing station.

The antenna system can also receive data from other satellites. Since November last year, the NSPO has provided the Central Weather Bureau with images for further analysis to enhance weather prediction.

Through future international cooperation, officials said, ROCSAT-2 will acquire pictures not only of Taiwan but of places all over the world, further enriching the database of images.

"We are now in the final stages of testing the performance of imagers on the satellite, which will be operating at a height of 891km above the Earth," Chang Guey-shin (張桂祥), head of the GNSPO's Ground System Section, said at a press conference held yesterday in Hsinchu.

The ROCSAT-2 will circle the Earth 14 times a day and will fly over Taiwan twice a day, once in daylight and once during the night.

The multi-mission center at the NSPO is connected with other stations in Chungli and Tainan in order to integrate and analyze data of real-time images.

After its implementation, the Image Processing System will serve many domestic users, ranging from universities to government agencies and research institutions.

For an island prone to natural disasters resulting from earthquakes and typhoons, the timely availability of remote-sensing data is critical in the aftermath of such disasters. Officials said that images with a 2m resolution will be available within three hours after an application has been filed.

According to NSPO Director Lee Lou-chuang (李羅權), the satellite will be launched by the end of this year.

In a few months time, the satellite with a five-year lifespan will be shipped to Vandenburg Air Force Base in California for launch.

Vice Chairman Hsieh Ching-chih (謝清志) said that building ROCSAT-2 provided the domestic information industry with opportunities for developing state-of-the-art technologies, ranging from system engineering to software designing.

"Through the successful development of the Image Processing System, we foresee that the NSPO will play a leading role in future international cooperation in satellite programs," Hsieh said.
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