Taiwan's second satellite, ROCSAT-2, which left the National Space Program Office (NSPO) in Hsinchu yesterday, is expected to be launch-ed on schedule in six weeks from California.
A trailer with cushion facilities took the 750kg satellite, packaged in a 2,100kg container displaying Taiwan's flag, to CKS International Airport in Taoyuan.
PHOTO: TONY YAO, TAIPEI TIMES
NSPO spokesmen said yesterday that a China Airlines Boeing 747 would carry the satellite and related equipment, weighing 14,295kg, directly to Los Angeles today. After the flight of just more than 10 hours, it will take another six hours to move the satellite by truck to Vandenberg Air Force Base.
"All the way to the base, vibration has to be limited to a certain level," Chern Jeng-shing (
A team of NSPO scientists and engineers arrived at the base yesterday to prepare for the launch on Jan. 17.
Since last Thursday, when the satellite was wrapped, nitrogen has been injected into the container to ensure stable conditions for the long journey.
According to Bobby Yu (余萃眾), general manager of China Airlines' cargo sales and services department, the airline's midway station in Anchorage, Alaska, would be bypassed to minimize the risks.
Richard Shen (沈成), general manager of Global Fritz Logistics Services, said special customs arrangements were made to facilitate the transportation.
When it arrives at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the satellite will be thoroughly tested for three days. The satellite will be coupled with a Taurus rocket, a four-stage, ground-launched vehicle, at a launch site operated by Orbital Sciences Corp, and should be ready at least 13 days prior to the launch.
Taiwan chose to launch the ROCSAT-2 from the US instead of India, which offered a half-price deal.
The launch services in the US cost about NT$ 1.3 billion, according to the NSPO.
Lee Lou-chuang (
"ROCSAT-2 satellite will be the first to observe rare phenomena like lighting-induced red sprites, upwardly discharging blue jets and gigantic jets," Lee said.
Being different from its predecessor, ROCSAT-1, which was launched in January 1999 and had a strictly scientific purpose, ROCSAT-2 will also have more down-to-earth applications involving remote-sensing technologies.
NSPO officials stressed yesterday that the ROCSAT-2 project, costing NT$4.7 billion in total, would further enhance Taiwan's abilities to predict natural disas-ters and map state-owned land. It will be able to take clear pictures of objects on the ground as small as 2m across.
The satellite is designed to orbit the earth 14 times a day, including two passes over Taiwan, 891km above the earth's surface.
Representatives of the Astrium Company of France, the NSPO's main contractor on the ROCSAT-2 project, said yesterday that everything had gone according to plan since the cooperation began in November 1999.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS