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.
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
DEROGATORY: WTO host Cameroon’s designation of Taiwan as a ‘province of China’ seriously undermines the nation’s status and rights as a WTO member, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday condemned Cameroon for listing Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China” in visa documents for an upcoming WTO ministerial conference, a move that led to Taiwan’s withdrawal from the event. The designation “seriously undermined” Taiwan’s status and rights as a WTO member, the ministry said in a statement. It is the first time since 2001 that Taiwan has declined to attend a WTO Ministerial Conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday next week in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Taiwan had planned to send a delegation led by Minister Without Portfolio
RSS