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.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS