Two cubesats developed by Taiwanese researchers were scheduled to be launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corp’s (SpaceX) Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida between 22:24pm and 23:24pm last night.
However, SpaceX at 10:37pm tweeted that due to unfavorable weather, it was delaying the launch until tonight.
The Transporter-1 mission is the first to be part of the company’s SmallSat Rideshare Program, according to the SpaceX Web site.
“On board this launch are 133 commercial and government spacecraft (including cubesats, microsats, and orbital transfer vehicles) and 10 Starlink satellites — the most spacecraft ever deployed on a single mission,” the Web site said.
The Ionospheric Dynamics Explorer and Attitude Subsystem Satellite, weighing 4.2kg, was developed by National Central University’s (NCU) Department of Space Science and Engineering for ionospheric observation.
It is the first cubesat developed by NCU, and about 30 teachers and students were involved, department professor Liu Jann-yenq (劉正彥) said, adding that they plan to launch two more cubesats next year.
Hopefully, each year in the department would “adopt” a cubesat, as it would be a good opportunity to train talent, Liu added.
The YuSat, weighing 1.6kg, was developed by MoGaMe Mobile Entertainment Co (騰暉電信), Letscom International Ltd (雷斯康) and KYLink Communications Corp (冠宇國際電訊), along with National Taiwan Ocean University, to monitor maritime traffic.
They are to settle into orbit 525km above the Earth after they leave the rocket 65 minutes after launch, said the Ministry of Science and Technology in a news release.
They are two of three cubesats selected by the National Space Organization (NSPO) for a microsatellite program that began in 2017 with a total budget of NT$37 million (US$1.3 million), including commission fees for three space services agents, it added.
Due to COVID-19, local developers did not travel to the US for the mission, and kept in contact with SpaceX through space services agents, which help coordinate information, NSPO Deputy Director-General Yu Shiann-jeng (余憲政) said.
It is the first time that Taiwan has launched two cubesats at a time, after the Phoenix cubesat developed by National Cheng Kung University was launched in 2017.
Research and development on cubesats are an important part to foster talent for space technology and industrial development, the ministry said.
The other, NutSat, developed by National Formosa University’s Department of Aeronautical Engineering to monitor aviation safety, is scheduled to be launched in June.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old